Chez Rodin

Sunday, we spent the afternoon at the Musée Rodin, which is located in the actual home of Auguste Rodin and which has its original gardens intact. Many of the larger bronze sculptures are scattered throughout the gardens. You can even visit just the gardens, or have lunch in the outdoor café, by paying only 1 euro.

We took the Little Guy with us, and it's not a bad place to take children because the museum itself isn't very big or overwhelming, sculptures are 3-dimensional and often more interesting for kids than paintings, and they they can run around out in the gardens as well. We thought we'd get in for free as part of the "Patrimony Days" where the majority of museums and attractions offer free admission, but wouldn't you know this was one of the ones that wasn't "participating". Still worth it though; this is one of my favorite museums in Paris.

Of course,  you can't miss "The Thinker", it's virtually the first thing you see as you enter the gardens. It's also #1 on the garden sculpture map; we gave the Little Guy the job of finding each sculpture in order so it was a bit like a treasure hunt for him (another way to keep it interesting for an 8-year-old).

Here's the front of the mansion (it's not a chateau but it's not a regular "house", either), with the Eglise Saint Louis as its neighbor at Les Invalides. Napoleon's buried under the dome.

Each time I come to Chez Rodin, I seem to notice sculptures I hadn't before. This time, it was this small marble and bronze piece called "The Wave" by Camille Claudel, Rodin's muse, sometime-lover and a brilliant artist in her own right. I like that they exhibit some of her works here as well.

This was another piece I noticed for the first time, although I found it a bit terrifying to look at. But notice how her hair flows out around her and into the stone. 

The gardens as seen from an open second-floor window in the museum. Sculptures can be found among the trees, and there are benches everywhere so you can relax and contemplate. Or do what we did: bring a small snack for afternoon gouter! (No picnicking on the grass, though!)

Musée Rodin, rue de Varenne, 75007 Paris. Métro Varennes, ligne 13.