The Musée de la Légion d'honneur: free, hours, and Thursday evenings with Orsay

What you'll see

The museum tells the story of France through its decorations: over 5,000 works, from insignia to portraits of honorees. Its full name says it well, it is the museum of the Légion d'honneur and of the orders of chivalry. The collections are presented in two main sections, France on one side and the world on the other, allowing you to compare French orders with those of other countries. A documentation center completes the visit for those who wish to go further.

It is a reasonably sized museum. We recommend spending an hour there, without rushing.

Hours and admission

Admission is free. The museum is open Wednesday to Sunday from 1pm to 6pm, and on Thursdays until 8pm. It is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, and it never opens in the morning: this is the point that surprises our guests the most.

• Address: 2 rue de la Légion d'honneur, 75007 Paris
• Admission: free
• Open: Wednesday to Sunday, 1pm to 6pm; Thursday, 1pm to 8pm
• Closed: Monday and Tuesday

Our recommendation: Thursday, with Orsay

The museum is a neighbor of the Musée d'Orsay, and Thursday is the day when the two combine best. Orsay stays open until 9:45pm on Thursdays (last entry at 9pm). We therefore suggest the Légion d'honneur in the late afternoon, then Orsay in the evening, when the daytime crowds have left. You then return peacefully to the 7th, and our bar awaits you on avenue Duquesne to end the evening.

On other days, keep the 1pm opening in mind: the morning is better suited to Orsay or the Musée Rodin, the afternoon to the Légion d'honneur.