Musée du Petit Palais

The Petit Palais and its neighbor the Grand Palais were built as exhibition halls for the Paris Universal Exhibition in 1900; both buildings are showcases of the flamboyant art nouveau architecture that flourished in Belle Époque Paris.

After its opening the Petit Palais was used to show the works bought from the Parisien Salons. You can find ancient artifacts, medieval objects, rare manuscripts and books, Dutch paintings from the seventeenth century. The collection includes western art from the Egyptian era to the present.

Le Petit Palais was opened officially December 11, 1902, between the Champs-Elysees and the Avenue Alexandre III. The Petit Palais also has many temporary exhibitions.