The most romantic museum in town

It was time I went back to visit the Musée Rodin. The museum reopened last November after a three year restoration. It is after all one of the most romantic locations the city of love has to offer and amongst France's ten most visited museums.

It is housed in the magnificent Hôtel Biron, a building from 18th century which is a true gem of classical architecture embellished with woodworks and rocaille decoration.

Auguste Rodin (1840-1917) used to work and live here. In 1911 he gave the State all his works and his collections of antiquities provided that he could live in the Hôtel Biron until his death and that the State would keep all these collections thereafter converting the Hôtel Biron into the Musée Rodin.

Thanks to the restoration the wooden floors, the wall panelings and the mirrors look up to scratch not that the original state had disturbed my past experience when admiring the artwork. Some of the works are now exhibited on new display furniture which for my taste seem too modern and cold, but hey, who am I to judge!?!

The journey is mainly chronological with the addition of some thematic rooms. Among them is a new room dedicated to the sculptures of Camille Claudel, Rodin's life-long muse. Visiting the museum at night gave the entire venue an even more romantic touch. The lights reflected off the mirrors and sculptures were reproduced in the window panels.

Before leaving the Musée Rodin I took a quick walk around the courtyard admiring the lit-up facade and the magnificent view of the sparkling Eiffel Tower trying to compete with the impressive golden dome of Les Invalides next to it. It was too cold and too dark to explore the three-hectare park but I will be back in spring with my hubby to indulge in the special romantic atmosphere and to admire the masterpieces as well as the flower gardens throughout the grounds.

Elegant entrance hall at the Hôtel Biron

Not sure I like those grey walls contrasting to the wooden pedestals?!?

Just imagine the backdrop with all the roses bushes blooming in the spring

Just like a scene from the movies, don't you think?

Ahhhh, the kiss...

... and another kiss.

Detailed studies...

Delicacy, elegance and talent melted into one gesture

It seems we are just waiting for the artist to turn up to finish his work

Again, the grey painted walls do not favour the ambiance!

Monsieur himself

An interesting angle

Forse, masculitiy and movability cast in bronze

The view stepping out into the courtyard

"Le Penseur" thinking hard in the cold, dark night