Musée Nissim de Camondo

Such an amazing visit. Was unaware of the tragedy that befell the family and to have a glimpse into their world was really a humbling experience. Beautifully exhibited collection of exceptional objects and a family story that will tug at your heartstrings. Thank you

Kind of disappointing museum as nothing was in English and everything seemed very faded. There wasn’t a single room that made you say “Wow!”. Paled in comparison to similar places like the Wallace Museum or the Mauitshuis or period rooms generally. Not worth the trip. The staff was nice though.

Not your typical paintings museum at all. It’s a beautiful house in the middle of Paris. You’ll be able to go through well decorated rooms while enjoying a backyard and garden. The decorations are 18th century and quite picturesque. Great visit, I’d recommend for sure !

As someone who has spent a lot of time in Paris and lived in the city for a number of years I highly recommend. Great view into the life of a culminated and interesting person. Good story and lovely (mostly) history of them. Very stimulating and really worth a visit. Go to Louvre to check it off your bucket list, but come here to be a part of human and relatable culture.

A wonderful find ! Beautiful museum and all such great examples of fine furnishing and ceramics

SPECTACULAR attraction!! Real hidden gem. It feels like stepping into a time machine and traveling to the belle époque (or movie set if you’re a Downton Abbey fan 😂). Beautiful museum! I loved the audio guide! Go and enjoy while it’s still an underrated Paris attraction and not totally overcrowded.

Beautiful beautiful place to visit. First of all, here not much people (like in others museums in Paris, such as La Louvre or Versailles, where you literally can't see anything), so you can spend time in peace, with your thoughts by looking at house, with a lot of collections of 18 century furniture ect. Also, on reception, a very friendly lady. Small souvenir shop with high-quality postcards per 1€ (important information for postcrossers 😀) Nice place to spend the day if you are not rushing.

Another gem of art and architecture in Paris. A quiet place where not many people go, and you can have a good time admiring the architecture and works of art with complete patience. It's worth it.

Such an amazing visit. Was unaware of the tragedy that befell the family and to have a glimpse into their world was really a humbling experience. Beautifully exhibited collection of exceptional objects and a family story that will tug at your heartstrings. Thank you

Kind of disappointing museum as nothing was in English and everything seemed very faded. There wasn’t a single room that made you say “Wow!”. Paled in comparison to similar places like the Wallace Museum or the Mauitshuis or period rooms generally. Not worth the trip. The staff was nice though.

Not your typical paintings museum at all. It’s a beautiful house in the middle of Paris. You’ll be able to go through well decorated rooms while enjoying a backyard and garden. The decorations are 18th century and quite picturesque. Great visit, I’d recommend for sure !

As someone who has spent a lot of time in Paris and lived in the city for a number of years I highly recommend. Great view into the life of a culminated and interesting person. Good story and lovely (mostly) history of them. Very stimulating and really worth a visit. Go to Louvre to check it off your bucket list, but come here to be a part of human and relatable culture.

A wonderful find ! Beautiful museum and all such great examples of fine furnishing and ceramics

SPECTACULAR attraction!! Real hidden gem. It feels like stepping into a time machine and traveling to the belle époque (or movie set if you’re a Downton Abbey fan 😂). Beautiful museum! I loved the audio guide! Go and enjoy while it’s still an underrated Paris attraction and not totally overcrowded.

Beautiful beautiful place to visit. First of all, here not much people (like in others museums in Paris, such as La Louvre or Versailles, where you literally can't see anything), so you can spend time in peace, with your thoughts by looking at house, with a lot of collections of 18 century furniture ect. Also, on reception, a very friendly lady. Small souvenir shop with high-quality postcards per 1€ (important information for postcrossers 😀) Nice place to spend the day if you are not rushing.

Another gem of art and architecture in Paris. A quiet place where not many people go, and you can have a good time admiring the architecture and works of art with complete patience. It's worth it.

I find visiting the Louvre painful. Way too many crowds to lose yourself in the art. And the sheer size of the museum and the varied collection can be overwhelming. So the museums that really appealed to me in Paris are those smaller collections with a specific point of view. More passionate and more personal. That is certainly the case of the Musée Nissim de Camondo. The gorgeous estate is dedicated to the glory of 18th century French architecture, art and furnishings. The owner, Moïse de Camondo, was obsessed with 18th century France and had a perfectionist's zeal for designing a masterpiece (although he included many 19th century conveniences) to thrill the artistic and cultural elite during his time in Paris. His dinner parties were legendary and the home was regularly visited by artists and scholars to view the masterpieces and dine at his elegant banquets. But, the commentary was quite stunning and bittersweet. All the money in the world (he was heir to one of the largest banking fortunes of the Ottoman Empire) could neither buy love (his wife left him), nor protect his family from two major forces of sorrow in the early 20th century (World War 1 and the concentration camps of WW2). Mr. de Camondo built the house for his beloved son to enjoy, but his life was cut short when he was killed in action in 1917 serving his country as a fighter pilot in WW1. Life was never the same and Mr. de Camondo all but retreated from public life and his elegant parties were drastically curtailed. He had a daughter, but she didn't share her father's interest and once she married, she moved out of this glorious estate and he was left to wander the halls alone. Her family (including husband and two children), were later killed in a Nazi concentration camp in WW2. Upon his death, his will bequeathed the home and all of its furnishings to the Arts Décoratifs in his son's name for the enjoyment of all. Although the reasons are sad, it is a joy to tour the home and listen to the excellent audio guide that really provides not just bare facts, but really describes life in that vibrant era. Highlights for me were the kitchen, the dining room with a fully set table, in anticipation of an elegant soiree with sample menu, and the oval salon with the collection of paintings describing the courtship of a shepherd and shepherdess. It is interesting to me, that sometimes it is immigrants that most fully embrace the cultural richness and heritage of their adopted homes. That is certainly the case here. Born in Turkey, he became one of the most prominent members of French society and didn't just write a check to fill it house with fine things. It is clear his hand was involved in every decision. One of his passions was reuniting items of a collection that had been scattered to the winds. Too bad he didn't have as much success creating a happy home. ---------------- -- This museum is included in the Paris Museum Pass - http://en.parismuseumpass.com/ (aka the best money I ever spent in France). -- Photography (without flash) is permitted.

i was on TA and this museum popped up and i didn't go to it the last 3 times but i missed out, this is a beautiful small museum in a random area where i had never been Parc Monceau! The furnishings are beautiful (everything French is beautiful, we get it) and although the story of the owners is bittersweet you have to embrace the beauty! The entrance fee is low so if you have time definitely check it out!

Beautiful house. Beautiful furnishings. Beautiful objets d'art. Yet the tragic story made this visit a downer for me. Monsieur de Camondo's wife left him for another man. His son was killed in action in WWI. His daughter and her family perished in the Holocaust. Apparently they made the mistake of thinking their wealth and status would shield them from the Nazis. Interesting audio guide. If you have the time, there are lots of details about all the various things that Monsieur de Camondo acquired. (Small correction on Raffi M's review -- Moise de Camondo was the man who had the house built. He named the house after his beloved son Nissim. Also, according to the audioguide, Moise was not much of a banker himself, but rather a collector and aesthete. It was his father who made the family's fortune and Moise who used that money to build the house and acquire the collection that now constitutes this museum.)

I like this hidden jewel of a museum, but I can see why others might not. Essentially, the museum is nothing more than the spectacular house of the late 19th century Istanbul born Jewish financier, Nissim de Camondo, a man who was obsessed with the 18th century, complete with its furnishings. And when I say obsessed, I mean it - he built the house from the ground up to look like the Petit Trianon at versailles, all the furnishing are 18th century, the art is 18th century, the gardens are 18th century, and so on. The decorative arts are beautiful, the house a masterpiece, and the gigantic kitchens a real find for the culinary tourist. Having said all that, if seeing a grand 19th century house pretending to be an 18th century house isn't your cup of tea, then I'd skip this. It's not a must-see.

For the fact that Adrienne above has stated that it is her favorite museum in Paris, I stand with PRIDE!!!!! Of course there is Le Louvre, one of the world's greatest of museums and the foremost in Paris. However, Musee nissim de Camondo tells the story of the Jewish community of Paris, as well as a celebration of the history of Judaism. If one is studying or interested in the Jewish heritage, this should not be overlooked.

Exquisite museum, beautiful real estate, sublime objects d'art! Great location at the Parc Monceau, one of Paris' really nice gardens! The only drawback is the history of the family, divorce, son killed in WWI and daughter & family killed in the Holocaust. But the heritage remains, just amazing!

I loved this museum! I love history so much, but I particularly love the history of people. They way they lived, they way they loved, what they did with their lives - I find it all so fascinating! This house is SO BEAUTIFUL. Honestly, I can't even explain how lovely it is. It very much comes across as a living, working, functional home, despite its grandeur. The audio commentary which is free with entry is excellent - please get this, it will enhance your visit here so much! I think it was 7.5 euros which is really reasonable, especially when you will spend a good hour or two of your day here having a thoroughly enjoyable time. The will of mr camondo was so lovely and thought provoking. How lucky the people of france are that he left this to them in his will - and how lucky we are that is it is still a museum today, painstakingly looked after and loved by the art institute. I highly recommend a visit here - the area round about is filled with beautiful real estate, and the parc monceau which it borders is definitely worth a walk through - on a sunny day or otherwise.

Exquisite museum situated within walking distance of the Parc Monceau. It was formerly a private house (the Camondo family died in the Holocaust, which is a sobering thought as you wander around inside) and looks from the outside like a miniature palace whereas inside is an amazing and sumptuous collection of eighteenth century French art, displayed in room sets so that paintings and furniture come together in a dazzling fashion. Highlights include portraits by Vigée-Lebrun and gorgeous statues. Definitely worth a visit if you are a fan of eighteenth century art and the world that vanished with the revolution. The tea rooms are something special as well and really quite exquisite and worth a visit just for the cakes alone.

This is a lovely small museum in a convenient location near Villiers Metro stop. We especially liked seeing the mansion's kitchen, servants' dining room, servants' prep room off the formal dining room, bedrooms, and bathrooms. Many museums do not show these areas. Entry is free with the Paris Museum Pass.

My favorite museum in Paris. Under-rated, and therefore under-visited. In the height of tourist season, when crowds are heavy, that makes it a particularly lovely gem.