PlainGeets

Over the last one year, I’ve visited a museum each month (sometimes more), and had so people asking me about my culture budget. Friends and family wondered how we were constantly going to museums when the museum tickets in France cost anything from 11€ to 17€! It’s simple – the beauty of living in a country that prioritises culture is that they truly enable you to access culture without leaving you broke. And so it is, that I have visited some of the best museums in the country without shelling out a dime (or in this case, a cent)!

Free museums are quite the norm in France, and I’ve been to several during my various stays in Grenoble, like Musée de la Révolution at the Château de Vizille and the Musée de la Houille Blanche. And then of course, there are the free museums of Paris – Petit Palais which houses several beautiful works of art, Musée Carnavalet which showcases the history of Paris, Musée Bourdelle, dedicated to the famous sculptor, Maison de Balzac, among others…

But when you get free access to the more well-known museums like the Centre Pompidou, or the Musée d’Orsay, which house the most famous works of art, the pleasure is unparalleled. Wondering how you can partake of this pleasure? Another simple answer – by planning your Sundays!

When Joseph Addison told us that “Sunday clears away the rust of the whole week,” he meant that the day provides a much-needed reset, allowing us rejuvenate our spirits for the days ahead. For most of the world, this is synonymous with a day of rest. In France, however Sundays are much more than that – they are an open invitation to explore the rich tapestry of the country’s cultural heritage…for free! This generous initiative traces its roots back to 2001 when the French government decided to break down the barriers between people and their cultural heritage. The aim was simple: make museums accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial means, and encourage a broader audience to engage with the country’s artistic treasures.

The advantages of this initiative are abundant. For starters, it democratises culture by ensuring that economic constraints don’t hinder anyone from experiencing the nation’s rich history and artistic accomplishments. Families can spend quality time together exploring the country’s heritage, students can augment their learning outside the classroom, and tourists can immerse themselves in the local culture without worrying about their budget. Finally, the initiative stimulates local economies. Visitors, drawn by the allure of free museums, often end up exploring nearby cafes, restaurants, and shops. It’s a win-win scenario for both culture enthusiasts and local businesses.

I look forward to each month and plan the museum visit carefully (some like the Musée d’Orsay require pre-booking of a slot which needs extreme patience & luck), looking up exhibitions, thinking about the weather, how we’ll get there, and what we will do after the visit. Sunday is indeed a day to clear away the rust of the week, with a healthy dose of culture!

From the first Sunday of 2023 when we went to the Musée de l’Orangerie, and not only got to stand in front of the stunning collection of Monet’s Water Lilies, but also discovered the works of Sam Szafran, to the Musée des arts et métiers, dedicated to the evolution of technology and industry, we’ve worked our way museums that offer free entry on the first Sunday. While some offered the classic experience, others opened our eyes to different cultures, history of humanity, science and innovation, making us go back several times. My most memorable museum visits of the year include the Musée du Quai Branly – Jacques Chirac (where we went for 3 different exhibitions through the year, including Songlines, an exhibition on Indigenous Australian Art, which rekindled my interest in Post-colonial literature), the Musée national de l’Histoire de l’Immigration (a museum that everybody should visit at least once, if not 3-4 times!) and the Monnaie de Paris (where we went for the fabulous exhibition Art dans l’Argent, and I got to see the famous «L’Asperge» by Manet.)

In French, if you want to say that you’ve made the most of an opportunity, you use the verb « profiter. » I would not be exaggerating if I said that I had «profited » immensely from this wonderful tradition of throwing open the doors of museums on the first Sunday of every month! 😉

So, if you’re in France, mark your calendars, set your alarms, and get ready to embark on a journey through time and art without spending a dime! 🗓️ 🎨