During our week in Paris, we had a few things planned and figured out the rest as we went. Our friend Roland lives in Paris and had started following our blog. He suggested the Musée Jacquemart-André and told us we needed to add it to our list.

I have to admit, I had never heard of this museum. Raun had not heard of it either, so we were intrigued. I went online to learn more and quickly understood why Roland recommended it. I booked our tickets for the next day.

The Musée Jacquemart-André started as the private home of Édouard André. He came from a wealthy banking family and had a deep interest in art. In 1868, he commissioned architect Henri Parent to design his Paris mansion.

Nélie Jacquemart entered his life several years later when she painted his portrait. She was already a successful portrait artist when they met. The two married in 1881 and shared a love of art and travel. Together, they began building an incredible collection.

Their travels took them throughout Europe and other parts of the world. They had a special interest in Italian Renaissance art. Their collection grew to include paintings, sculptures, furniture, tapestries, and decorative pieces.

After Édouard died in 1894, Nélie continued traveling and adding to their collection. She later left their home and collection to the Institut de France. She wanted the public to enjoy what they had created. The Musée Jacquemart-André opened in 1913.

Our experience started before we even stepped inside. We walked through the iron gates and followed a passageway toward the museum. It opened into a beautiful curved courtyard leading to the main entrance. Right away, we knew this would not feel like a typical museum.

Once inside, the house itself became part of the experience. The rooms, ceilings, furnishings, artwork, and architecture all competed for our attention. We did not know where to look first.

Raun and I both love art, history, and architecture. The Musée Jacquemart-André gave us all three in one place. We walked from room to room admiring paintings, sculptures, furniture, and personal pieces collected by the couple.

The home still feels more personal than a large traditional museum. Their collection includes works by Rembrandt, Botticelli, Canaletto, Fragonard, and many others. The museum also features beautiful Italian Renaissance pieces reflecting their love of Italy.

You are not simply looking at artwork hanging on white walls. You see the art inside the rooms where Édouard and Nélie lived. Knowing they also entertained guests there made the experience feel even more personal.

Then there was the staircase. The grand staircase immediately caught our attention as it curved beautifully through the center of the home. It certainly made an impression.

I could imagine someone making a grand entrance down those stairs. Of course, I had to stop and take it all in. The staircase connects to the winter garden, another beautiful part of the home. Together, these spaces show the thought behind the mansion’s design.

After exploring the museum, we decided to stay for lunch at its restaurant and tea room, Le Nélie. We enjoyed a light lunch and a glass of wine on the terrace. From there, we could look toward the courtyard and garden while we relaxed.

It gave us time to talk about everything we had just seen. It was a wonderful way to end our visit.

Is the Musée Jacquemart-André worth visiting? Absolutely. Roland was right when he told us we needed to see it. This museum surprised us and became one of the highlights of our week in Paris.

If you love art, history, or architecture, add the Musée Jacquemart-André in Paris to your list. What I loved most was how everything came together. The artwork, architecture, furnishings, and history tell the story of two people who loved collecting and traveling.

Paris has many famous museums, and they deserve the attention they receive. Sometimes, though, a smaller museum can give you an experience you never expected. The Musée Jacquemart-André did that for us.

Next in Our European Summer Adventure, we are leaving Paris for the day. We are heading to Giverny and Claude Monet’s beautiful home and gardens.

Before we move on, if you missed our visit to La Galerie Dior, you can read Our European Summer Adventure: Visiting La Galerie Dior in Paris HERE.