Today is April 1, which is April Fool’s Day! Here is how the French celebrate. I hope you have time to read the article linked above. Hilarious. What stood out to me was the celebration of nature. We knew folks liked to pin a fish on someone’s back, but did you know that they also celebrate by acknowledging the following:

“This was a time when people would bring out their spring clothing, get all dressed up, and go out into fields to celebrate the reawakening of nature – the start of a brand new year. It was customary during these festivities to exchange small gifts, usually food and often fish.” (https://thegoodlifefrance.com/april-fools-day-or-april-fish-day-france/)

After our Orsay experience, we planned a trip to the market and a picnic to celebrate nature! We did not know about this tradition, but it explains why the garden we visited was crowded with people celebrating April Fool’s! More later!

This post will start with our early morning visit to the Musée d’Orsay. What a wonderful museum! Again, the museum pass worked wonders for us! We went to the front of the line with this pass! Remember to always check if the museum requires a reservation. During this time, we did not have to reserve a spot.

The Musée d’Orsay is a renowned art museum housed in a former Beaux-Arts railway station, the Gare d’Orsay. Opened in 1986, it features an impressive collection of French art from 1848 to 1914, including paintings, sculptures, furniture, and photography. The museum is particularly famous for its extensive collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterpieces by artists such as Monet, Manet, Renoir, Degas, Cézanne, and Van Gogh.

The building itself is a work of art, with its iconic clock and grand architecture. It was originally constructed for the 1900 Paris Exposition but was later repurposed into the museum we know today. It’s a must-visit for art enthusiasts and history lovers alike! The large clock reminded us of Parish’s favorite movie, “Hugo.”

It is always surreal to stand in front of a famous painting by an artist you’ve admired all your life. Certain paintings, like Monet’s Lady with a Parasol and the dancers by Renoir, or Van Gogh’s Starry Night, are some of our favorites. We have prints of the dancers in our dining room. We utilized Rick Steves’ audio for the museum. Don’t forget your earbuds and your travel battery pack to charge your phone along the way.

Walking into the Musée d’Orsay felt like stepping into the restless hearts of the artists whose works adorned its walls. Every brushstroke seemed to echo their insatiable thirst for meaning—a pursuit that drove them to explore places as varied as sun-soaked Tahiti, bustling saloons, and quiet villages. These weren’t just landscapes or scenes; they were windows into the human soul, glimpses of passion, struggle, and the raw essence of life.

The art revealed an array of personalities, from the determined and adventurous to the tormented and introspective. Van Gogh’s “Starry Night,” painted during his time in a hospital, emerged as a poignant testament to the beauty born from despair. It was humbling to think of these artists, some unrecognized in their time, pouring their struggles and passions onto canvas, often at the cost of their own mental well-being. Their legacy shines brightly now, reminding visitors of the profound connection between hardship and creativity.

Walking through the museum, it was impossible not to feel a deep empathy for the artists who lived so boldly, traversing not only physical spaces but the emotional depths of humanity itself. The Musée d’Orsay is a tribute to their restless spirits—a beacon that celebrates their enduring quest to capture the intricacies of existence in paint, clay, and light.

I fell in love with Van Gogh’s painting below. The colors and the way the house is nestled created a sense of warmth and safety for me.

As you go through the slide show, what famous paintings and artists do you recognize?