Universal Exhibition of 1900: From Orsay Museum to the Petit Palais (3h)

Itinerary

We present a 3-hour private tour to visit the Orsay Museum in a personalized way and to discover how was Paris at the times of the Universal Exhibition of 1900. 

Begin your tour discovering the stunning Art Nouveau Collection on display in this fantastic museum, installed in the very well preserved former Orsay railway station, built for the Universal Exhibition of 1900. Your private guide will accompany you in the discovery of many interesting works:

• The birth of Guimard Style: his first architectural drawings and art objects by Hector Guimard, and major furniture works as well
• Major pieces of furniture by Majorelle and glass works by Gallé
• The Belle Époque depicted in the paintings by Toulouse Lautrec and other Parisian artists
• Art Nouveau Style through Central Europe, Northern Europe and Scandinavia: furniture from Victor Horta, Van der Velde (Belgium), Antoni Gaudí (Catalonia), Charpentier (France) and Bugatti (Italy)

Our guide is very interested in Art Nouveau and visiting the museum together you will get many interesting insights to understand the Art Nouveau movement, works and artists.

After the in-depth visit to the museum, you will have a short walk and cross The Ornate Belle Epoque bridge Pont Alexandre III, classified as a French monument historique since 1975. It is the most beautiful and ornate bridge over the Seine and it has exuberant Art Nouveau lamps, cherubs, nymphs and winged horses at either end.

The construction of the bridge is a marvel of 19th century engineering was inaugurated in the 1900 Universal Exhibition, as were the nearby Grand Palais and Petit Palais.

At that time Art Nouveau was the most prominent architectural style and was embraced by the wealthy and was a synonymous with opulence and refined beauty. As well as the Musée d’Orsay, these two great buildings are listed as historic monuments by the French Ministry of Culture. This private tour doesn’t enter to the the museums located in these iconic buildings.

The construction of the Grand Palais began in 1897 following the demolition of the Palais de l’Industrie as part of the preparation works for the Universal Exposition. As with the other buildings of the tour, it is a wonderful architecture to admire.

After you admire the masterpiece Petit Palais from the outside, you will be accompanied by your guide to see it from inside from its café, a charming place opening on to a superb enclosed garden. There, you can have a drink and talk with your private guide and at the same time admire pools bordered with blue and gold mosaic, colonnades and exotic plants in a 1900 style.

Paris is a perfect place to get inspired by La Belle Époque. Book this private tour and fell like you are in 1900!

Some say that Paris is told to be the birthplace of Art Nouveau. Enjoy the personalized attention that comes with our private guide.