The Musée Cognacq-Jay in Paris, a collector's museum in the heart of the Marais district

Are you familiar with the Musée Cognacq-Jay in Paris's Marais district? This small municipal museum, located near the Musée National Picasso and the Musée Carnavalet, houses a collection of 18th-century works.

Housed in the Hôtel de Donon, this collection was the treasure trove of art connoisseurErnest Cognacq, best known as the founder of the Samaritaine department store. He and his wife, Marie-Louise Jaÿ, bequeathed the collection to the City of Paris, which has since taken on the task of exhibiting and protecting the works. Paintings, sculptures, furniture and objets d'art: the museum houses over a thousand works reflecting the tastes and vision of their owner.

Classified as a historic monument, theHôtel de Donon serves as a showcase for this collection, which perpetuates the spirit and culture of the 18th century. The rooms feature works by Fragonard, Watteau, Houdon, Rembrandt, Meyer...

Getting to the museum

The Musée Cognacq-Jay is open daily from 10 am to 6 pm. Closed on Mondays, January 1, May 1 and December 25. Good news for all art lovers:access to the permanent collections is free for all! To discover the exhibitions, however, tickets cost between seven and nine euros. Unfortunately, the museum is not accessible to people with reduced mobility.

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The museum organizes exhibitions and displays exploring the various works in the permanent collections, or focusing on a particular theme in eighteenth-century art. Various workshops are also organized on a regular basis. There's also a bookshop-boutique where you can keep a souvenir of your visit.

There are several metro stops within easy reach of the museum: Saint-Paul (line 1), Chemin-Vert (line 8) and Rambuteau (line 11) are all close by. By bus, you can choose between lines 29 (Turenne-Saint Gilles / Payenne), 69 (Saint-Paul), 76 (Saint-Paul) and 96 (Saint-Paul). Now you're ready for your next visit!