The Musée Rodin occupies the Hôtel Biron, an elegant 18th-century mansion in the 7th arrondissement where the sculptor Auguste Rodin worked in the last years of his life. It holds a large collection of his work, including The Kiss, while The Thinker, The Gates of Hell and The Burghers of Calais stand outdoors in a rose-filled garden. It is one of the most pleasant museums in Paris, small enough to enjoy without fatigue and with a garden that feels like a calm escape from the city.
Why visit the Musée Rodin
Rodin rented rooms in the Hôtel Biron from 1908, alongside other artists, and later offered his collection to the French state on condition that the building become a museum in his name. It opened in 1919, two years after his death. Seeing his sculptures in the setting where he lived and worked gives them a context you do not get in a large gallery.
The collection goes well beyond the famous pieces, with marbles, bronzes, plaster studies and drawings, as well as works by Camille Claudel, the sculptor who was his student, collaborator and partner, and whose own talent is increasingly recognised.
The mansion itself is part of the appeal. Its rooms, with wood panelling, tall windows and views of the garden, show sculptures and paintings from Rodin's personal collection alongside his own work, including paintings by Van Gogh and Renoir that he owned. Large windows let in natural light, which suits the marble pieces especially well.
Getting to the Musée Rodin by metro
The nearest station is Varenne on metro line 13, which is just a couple of minutes from the museum entrance on Rue de Varenne. Line 13 connects directly with Saint-Lazare and Champs-Élysées–Clemenceau, making it easy to reach from the Right Bank.
Alternatives include Invalides, served by lines 8 and 13 and by RER C, about ten minutes' walk away across the Esplanade des Invalides, and Saint-François-Xavier on line 13.
Musée Rodin tickets and opening hours
A ticket is needed for both the museum and the garden. There has been a cheaper garden-only option, which is a good choice if you mainly want to see the outdoor bronzes. Buying online through the official Musée Rodin website lets you choose a time slot and skip the ticket line. The museum is included in the Paris Museum Pass, and under-18s, as well as many EU residents under 26, have historically been admitted free.
The museum is closed on Mondays. Opening hours and prices change, so check the official website before your visit.
Best time to visit and how long to stay
Late spring and summer are especially lovely, when the rose garden is in bloom and you can sit on a bench among the sculptures. Arriving at opening time on a weekday gives the quietest rooms. Weekends and rainy days, when people come indoors, are busier.
Plan for one and a half to two hours to see the mansion and garden at an easy pace. There is a garden cafe if you want to stay longer.
Highlights at the Musée Rodin
The Thinker
The large bronze sits in the garden in front of the mansion. It was first conceived as a figure for The Gates of Hell, representing the poet Dante contemplating his work.
The Gates of Hell
A vast bronze doorway covered with tumbling figures from Dante's Inferno, which Rodin worked on for decades. Many of his best-known sculptures began as figures in this composition.
The Kiss
The marble couple embracing, inside the mansion, is one of the most loved works in the collection.
The Burghers of Calais
A powerful group of six figures in the garden, representing citizens who offered their lives to save their town during the Hundred Years' War.
The Camille Claudel room
A room dedicated to works by Claudel, including pieces in marble, bronze and onyx.
Nearby on the same stop
- Les Invalides: the gilded dome next door, home to Napoleon's tomb and the Army Museum.
- Rue Cler: a market street with food shops and cafes, around 15 minutes' walk west.
- Musée d'Orsay: Impressionist masterpieces, about 15 to 20 minutes on foot to the north-east.
- The Eiffel Tower: around 20 to 25 minutes' walk away past the École Militaire.
To see more places near Varenne, open Musée Rodin on Around the Metro, or explore every station on the Paris metro map.