Les Musées de Paris

This one’s a treat. One of the few museums in Paris dedicated to sculpture, le Musée Rodin provides an excellent overview of the sculptor’s career, in surrounds that include not only the stately Hôtel Biron, where Rodin once worked, but an extensive garden peppered with roses, water features and, of course, sculptures.

There are a couple of nods to his lover and (arguably more talented) contemporary, Camille Claudel, but for the most part the collection features works by Rodin himself. Many flock to the famed Le Baiser (The Kiss) and the piece is beautiful indeed. But it is Rodin’s grittier and more unique work, much of which can be found in the garden, that truly stands out. The most obvious is perhaps Le Penseur (The Thinker), however my favourite is the rough-hewn and oddly proportioned Monument à Balzac, praised for capturing the literary giant’s grandeur and coarseness.

Auguste Rodin, Monument à Balzac, 1897

In this sculpture, Balzac wraps a cloak about his imposing form, head thrown upwards, hair tossed back like a mane. If you take the metro to Varenne station when you visit, you may see another version of the piece on one of the platforms. (Balzac lovers, look out for an entry on la Maison de Balzac soon.)

And yes, if you are a fan of Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris, the scenes with Carla Bruni, aka Mme Sarkozy, did take place in the grounds. It’s not hard to understand why a film consumed with the picturesque sights of Paris used this museum as a backdrop.

xx la Muséophile

The Musées de Paris museum map of Paris

Le Musée Rodin, 79 rue de Varenne 75007, métro: Varenne (line 10) or Saint-François Xavier (line 13)

Full rate: 6 euros, reduced rate: 5 euros

Opening hours : Tuesday to Sunday 10am-5.45pm, Closed Mondays (note: gardens close at 5pm between October 1 and March 31)

Wheelchair accessible