★★★★★ 5.0
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Musée National Picasso-Paris
The name of this fancy mansion literally means "Salty House" because it was built in 1659 for a guy who got super rich collecting salt taxes from everyone in France! Can you imagine getting wealthy just from salt? Pierre Aubert de Fontenay made SO much money that he could afford this incredible palace right here on Rue de Thorigny in the heart of Paris's Marais neighborhood. As you walk through that grand entrance, you're stepping into the same hallway where the famous writer Balzac once studied when this was a school over 200 years ago. Look up at that magnificent staircase with its swirling iron railings - those were carved by three different sculptors working together! Now this "Salty House" holds the world's BIGGEST collection of Picasso's art - we're talking 5,000 pieces! That's like if you drew a picture every single day for almost 14 years straight. The coolest part? Picasso's family actually GAVE all this art to France instead of paying their taxes with money. What an amazing treasure trade!
Did You Know?
- The Musée National Picasso-Paris was born from a unique legal process: after Picasso’s death, his heirs paid French inheritance taxes by donating thousands of his artworks—a system called 'dation'—resulting in the world’s largest public collection of Picasso’s art, with over 5,000 works spanning every stage of his career, including rare sculptures and personal sketchbooks.
- The museum is housed in the Hôtel Salé, a 17th-century private mansion that is itself a historic monument, creating a striking contrast between its baroque architecture and the modern art within; the building’s restoration and conversion into a museum was overseen by architect Roland Simounet, blending heritage and contemporary design in a way that echoes Picasso’s own artistic journey.
- Beyond Picasso’s own works, the museum displays his personal collection of art by masters like Cézanne, Matisse, and Degas, offering a rare glimpse into the artist’s influences and friendships; families and children can also enjoy the outdoor sculpture garden, where many of Picasso’s large-scale sculptures are displayed—a fun, interactive way to experience his art in a historic Parisian setting.