Musée Bourdelle

Paris is full of grand museums, often keeping visitors so busy that they overlook the smaller, hidden gems. The Musée Bourdelle is definitely one of those must-see art museums that tourists often miss.

Discover all five of our favorite small art museums in Paris.

Concealed in a side street just steps from the Gare Montparnasse, the former studio of sculptor Antoine Bourdelle offers a rare look at what Paris was like in the late 1800s when the city was full of artistes and ateliers were springing up everywhere.

A student of Auguste Rodin, Bourdelle later went on to take Alberto Giacometti under his wing — both, incidentally, with their own lovely museums in Paris, the Musée Rodin and Institut Giacometti, respectively.

Bourdelle’s museum is a beautiful tribute to the 19th-century artist, a mix of an art gallery, a well-preserved home, and a gorgeous courtyard garden. The studio is almost exactly as Bourdelle left it.

With sculptures ranging from the absolutely enormous to the small and delicate, the artworks on display span a wide range of aesthetics, some typically Art Deco, and others, such as the set of Beethoven busts, a clear sign of Rodin’s influence.

Wandering through the rooms that were once his home, Bourdelle’s personal possessions offer a glimpse of what inspired him. Walking through the courtyard, you get a feeling of the tranquility he felt in his studio.

This relatively small place has plenty to see, and you’re sure to find yourself lingering over certain pieces. Personally, I couldn’t tear myself away from the courtyard and the enormous horse sculpture in the front garden. 

This charming Montparnasse museum also welcomes temporary exhibitions.

The Musée Bourdelle is open Tuesday – Sunday from 10am to 6pm. The museum is closed on Mondays. Admission to the permanent collections is free, however, there is a charge to access temporary exhibitions.