The National Museum of Modern Art (MNAM) of Paris, different from the Museum of Modern Art (MAM), is one of the most important museums in Paris.
It is housed in the Centre Pompidou and is home to one of the world's largest collections of modern art.
Spread over two floors of the center, the museum's collection is the second largest in the world, after the one of the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
It is impressive and brings together more than 110 000 works, only part of which are exhibited in rotation. In this article, we will give you all the complete touristic information to know.
What can I do at the National Museum of Modern Art?
The Musée National d'Art Moderne (MNAM for short) presents masterpieces of modern and contemporary art.
The outstanding collection, which consists of more than 100 000 objects and covers the period from 1905 to the present day, is one of the largest and most important collections in the world.
Around 900 of the art objects are put on display in the constantly changing exhibitions. Art movements of cubism, surrealism, fauvism and abstract expressionism are represented.
The most famous representatives include masters such as Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, Vassily Kandinsky, Marc Chagall, Joan Miro, René Magritte, Jackson Pollock and Andy Warhol - to name just a few.
Visitors will find the MNAM exhibition rooms on the fourth and fifth floors of the Center Pompidou. The fourth floor is dedicated to contemporary art and shows works from the mid-1960s to the present day.
On the fifth floor, visitors can admire modern art with works dating from 1905 to 1965.
Temporary Exhibition
The MNAM’s collection is enriched by around 30 temporary exhibitions a year. For an up-to-date overview of the temporary exhibitions, please consult the museum's official website.
Pompidou Center
The Pompidou Center not only impresses with the Musée National d'Art Moderne, but also with its extraordinary, post-modern architecture. All supply pipes and ducts were built on the outside, which gives it its extraordinary appearance.
In addition to the art museum, there is a public library (BPI), a center for industrial design, a music research center (IRCAM) and a cinema.
You can find out more about the cultural center in our article about the Pompidou Center.
Viewpoint in the Pompidou Center
Not only fans of contemporary art get their money's worth at the Pompidou Center. The Viewpoint of the Centre Pompidou is considered an insider tip. From its observation desk, visitors can look far over the rooftops of Paris.
Restaurant & Cafe in the Museum
Art lovers can take care of their physical well-being in the restaurant or café of the Pompidou Center.
The café is on the first floor and overlooks the Pompidou Center forum. The Georges Restaurant, which serves cocktails and dinner, is on the 6th floor.
Bookshop & Boutique
There are also several bookstores in the complex that sell books on art, design, architecture and photography. You will find the bookstores on the ground floor, 4th and 6th floors.
There is also a shop on the ground floor that sells various products such as souvenirs and designer items.
Square in front of the Museum
The square Place Beaubourg in front of the museum has become a very lively place. Musicians, mimes and other street performers like to perform here to showcase their skills.
On the square Place Igor Stravinski next to the Centre Pompidou, you will find the Stravinsky Fountain by the Swiss architect Jean Tingueley. The fountain, which consists of 16 moving figures, is dedicated to the Russian composer and conductor Igor Stravinsky.
Entrance, Tickets and Tours of National Museum of Modern Art in Paris
How to get to the National Museum of Modern Art?
The Musée National d'Art Moderne is situated in the Pompidou Center, in the 4th arrondissement of Paris, just a 10-minute walk from Notre-Dame Cathedral. It has good public transport connections.
- The easiest way to get to the museum is by metro line 11 (to "Rambuteau" or “Hôtel de Ville”), line 1 to “Hôtel de Ville” or "Châtelet" or by lines 4,7 and 14 “Châtelet”.
- Alternatively, you can take the RER trains A, B or D to "Châtelet-Les Halles" station or take bus 29, 38, 47 or 75.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
The Musée National d'Art Moderne is situated in the Centre Pompidou, a Center of Art and Culture. It is located in the 4th arrondissement of Paris, just a 10-minute walk from the famous Notre-Dame Cathedral. The address is: Centre Pompidou, Place Georges-Pompidou, 75004 Paris
The easiest way to get to the Musée National d'Art Moderne is by metro line 11 (to “Rambuteau” or “Hôtel de Ville”), line 1 (to “Hôtel de Ville” or “Châtelet”) or by lines 4,7 and 14 (“Châtelet”). Alternatively, you can take the RER trains A, B or D to “Châtelet-Les Halles” station or take bus 29, 38, 47 or 75.
The regular opening times of the Musée National d'Art M are Wednesdays to Mondays from 11:00 to 21:00. Late nights until 23:00 on Thursdays, for exhibitions in galleries 1 and 2 on level 6. The museum is closed on Tuesdays. For the lastest information about opening hours, please consult the museum's official website.
On the first Sunday of each month, admission to the museum, the viewing platform and the children's gallery is free.
History of the Musée National d'Art Moderne
The Musée National d'Art Moderne was originally opened in the Palais de Tokyo on June 9, 1947. The collections have been steadily enlarged over the decades.
In 1977, at the request of French President Georges Pompidou, who had died three years earlier, the museum moved into the newly built Center of Art and Culture: Centre Pompidou.
Thanks to the further acquisition of the Centre Pompidou and numerous donations, the art museum in the Centre Pompidou now houses around 100,000 works.
Today, the Musée National d'Art Moderne is one of the most visited art museums in the world and, together with the Centre Pompidou, is one of the top attractions in Paris.