Musée National Picasso

Top choice in Le Marais, Ménilmontant & Belleville


One of Paris’ most treasured art collections is showcased inside the mid-17th-century Hôtel Salé, an exquisite private mansion owned by the city since 1964. The Musée National Picasso is a staggering art museum devoted to Spanish artist Pablo Picasso (1881–1973), who spent much of his life living and working in Paris. The collection includes more than 5000 drawings, engravings, paintings, ceramic works and sculptures by the grand maître (great master), although they're not all displayed at the same time.

The extraordinary cache of works was donated to the French government by the artist’s heirs in lieu of paying inheritance taxes. In addition to the permanent collection, the museum mounts two major temporary exhibitions a year (included in the admission price). An audioguide costs €5.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Le Marais, Ménilmontant & Belleville attractions

1. Le Mur du Marais

0.09 MILES

Wall murals by a succession of different street artists plaster one wall of a building, a two-minute walk from the Musée National Picasso, on the corner…

2. Musée Cognacq-Jay

0.11 MILES

This museum inside the Hôtel de Donon displays oil paintings, pastels, sculpture, objets d’art, jewellery, porcelain and furniture from the 18th century,…

3. Musée Carnavalet

0.18 MILES

Paris' history museum, spanning Gallo-Roman times onwards, rambles over a pair of remarkable hôtels particuliers (private mansions), the 1560-built Hôtel…

4. Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature

0.22 MILES

Collections at the Hunting and Nature Museum, inside the delightful Hôtel de Guénégaud (1651), include paintings, sculptures and objets d’art related to…

5. Musée des Archives Nationales

0.24 MILES

France's National Archives and small museum are set in a stunning pair of hôtels particuliers (mansions) amid beautiful gardens. Dating from the early…

6. Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson

0.26 MILES

Founded by renowned French humanist photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson (1908–2004) and his portrait-photographer wife Martine Franck (1938–2012), this…

7. Art Nouveau Synagogue

0.27 MILES

At the heart of the Jewish quarter of Pletzl lies this art nouveau synagogue, designed in 1913 by Hector Guimard, who was also responsible for the city's…

8. Place du Marché Ste-Catherine

0.29 MILES

Clad with benches and shaded by trees, this pretty pedestrian square is framed on three sides by atmospheric cafe pavement terraces that are perfect for…