Musee du Jeu de Paume museum in Paris
Located within the Tuileries Gardens, the Musee du Jeu de Paume is a fascinating museum in Paris that provides exhibitions on photography, film, cinema and video from the 19th century through to the 21st century and even supports internet art through its website.
About the Jeu de Paume
Now Jeu de Paume is actually French for racquet game and the building that now houses this photographic museum and exhibition centre, was originally built to hold what we class as a tennis court, and the history of the Jeu de Paume is actually quite fascinating in itself.
But getting back to this particular museum in Paris, its popularity has grown quite considerably over the last few years, especially due to its location and what the building was originally designed for.
The mission of the Jeu de Paume today is to produce and host different exhibitions to provide the public with a greater insight into this form of art, which has steadily become more recognised.
The Musee du Jeu de Paume has areas dedicated to established figures such as Martin Parr, Bruno Serralongue and Edward Steichen along with up and coming artists like Agathe Snow and Mario García Torres and the exhibition space is spread over three floors.
The large windows let in a lot of natural light, but they also provide the visitor with great views of the Jardin des Tuileries gardens, the Place de la Concorde, the River Seine and the dome of Les Invalides with its own museums.
The rooms are all different sizes and shapes, which actually enhances the visitor experience, plus there is an auditorium and a film and video centre, along with a bookshop come gift shop.
Different symposiums, talks, temporary exhibitions and much more are all held at the Musee du Jeu de Paume and the idea remains just as important, which is to get both young and old understanding these forms of art.
There are always different themed talks, etc arranged throughout the year and you can get information from their website or via telephone, yet if you fancy having a break, then you could enjoy the Japanese restaurant called Hana Bento.
Hana Bento provides a lunchtime menu of traditional Japanese dishes ranging in price from €4 to around €14 as of 2018, yet the afternoon tea menu allows visitors to taste a selection of authentic Japanese sweets, accompanied by a choice of teas imported from Kyoto.
From approximately the end of April until the end of the summer you will find that the Hana Bento also opens a terrace that overlooks the large octagonal basin of the Tuileries Gardens, which is a great place to also en a drink or one of their delights on offer.
Visiting the Musee du Jeu de Paume in Paris
You can gain access to the Musee du Jeu de Paume through the Tuileries Gardens by going up some steps from the Rue de Rivoli, however the disabled access is by the main Jardin des Tuileries entrance on the Place de la Concorde square, then you take the ramp, which is located on the left.
The building is also completely accessible to the disabled and there is also a lift in place, as well ramps for wheelchair users, plus you may be pleased to know that the Hana Bento Japanese restaurant is also accessible to the disabled and even people who are not visiting the museum itself.
You will find that the Musee du Jeu de Paume is open on a Tuesday from 11am through to 9pm and on a Wednesday to Sunday it is open from 11am through to 7pm.
However, we would like to point out that this museum is always closed on a Monday and also on all National French holidays, plus the last entry is 45 minutes before closing time, and the restaurant is also open at the same times as the museum.
As of 2018, the normal cost of entry to this museum is €10 per person, however there is also a reduced rate of only €7.50 for those under the age of 25 or above the age of 65, and free admission for children under the age of 12 and disabled people.
Yet some of the sections, talks, the cinema, auditorium and temporary exhibitions may have additional charges to pay.
Known as the Mardis Jeunes in order to try and promote the culture of the image further to a wider audience, on the last Tuesday of the month from 5pm through to 9pm there is free admission to all visitors under the age of 26 including the films presented in the auditorium, the themed tours and cine-talks.
Another big plus is that every Sunday afternoon there are visits organised specifically for families, so that both adults and children can enjoy the exhibitions together, but you would need to reserve your places for these. In addition, there are free guided tours conducted on a Wednesday and Saturday at 12.30pm, which are free on production of your valid exhibition ticket.
Access to the Musee du Jeu de Paume
When it comes to public transport in Paris, you will find that the nearest Metro station is the Concorde stop serving lines 1, 8 and 12, but the Jeu de Paume is also close to the Tuileries Metro stop serving line 1.
Alternatively, the bus lines 24, 42, 72, 73, 84 and 94 along with the Noctilien Night Bus Service via lines N11 and N24 will also get you within walking distance of this museum and historical monument in Paris.
This museum and exhibition space can also be accessed easily from the River Seine and the tourist buses that provide tours in Paris such as L'OpenTour will also get you close by to this and many other tourist attractions in the surrounding area.
