# Petit Palais — Paris, France

> The Petit Palais — the 'small palace' — was built for the 1900 Universal Exposition in Paris, facing its grander neighbour the Grand Palais across Winston Churchill Avenue. Designed by Charles Girault, the building is a Belle Époque masterpiece of iron, stone, and mosaic, built around a semicircular courtyard garden that remains one of Paris's hidden oases.

## Visitor facts
- Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Closed Mondays)
- Admission: ✓ Free permanent collection (special exhibitions ticketed)
- Free entry: Permanent collection always free
- Address: Av. Winston Churchill, 75008 Paris, France
- Time needed: 90 minutes
- Official website: https://www.petitpalais.paris.fr/en
- Facts verified: 2026-06-30

## Highlights
- The Three Bathers — Paul Cézanne · 1879–1882
- Portrait of Madame Olry — Gustave Courbet · 1852
- The Entry of Charles V into Paris — Jean Fouquet · c. 1455
- Portrait of the Countess Greffulhe — Philippe de Champaigne · c. 1640

## FAQ
**Is the Petit Palais free?**
Yes — the permanent collection is completely free with no ticket required. Temporary exhibitions are ticketed. The interior garden café is a quiet escape from the Champs-Élysées crowds.

**How long should I spend at Petit Palais?**
Plan 90 minutes for the highlights. Add time for temporary exhibitions, the museum shop, and café.

**What is Petit Palais best known for?**
A Belle Époque palace built for the 1900 Exposition — permanent fine arts collection free to all, with Courbet, Cézanne, and decorative arts around a beautiful interior garden. Key highlights include French 19th-century painting — Courbet, Cézanne, Pissarro, and Monet, Medieval and Renaissance art — illuminated manuscripts and religious panels, 17th-century French painting — Champaigne, Le Brun, and Bourdon.

**How do I get tickets for Petit Palais?**
✓ Free permanent collection (special exhibitions ticketed) Permanent collection always free. Tickets are usually available on the day, but booking online saves queue time in peak season. Official site: https://www.petitpalais.paris.fr/en

**Is the Petit Palais really free?**
Yes — the permanent collection has been free since 2002 with no ticket required. Walk through the main entrance, pass security, and enter the galleries directly. Only temporary exhibitions require a ticket. This makes it one of the best free museums in Paris.

**Can I visit the garden without seeing the art?**
The interior garden courtyard is accessible through the museum entrance. You can reach the garden café without touring the galleries, though passing through the ground-floor sculpture hall is unavoidable. The garden is free and open during museum hours.

**Petit Palais or Musée d'Orsay — which if I only have time for one?**
They serve different purposes — the d'Orsay is unmissable for Impressionism and Post-Impressionism (Monet, Van Gogh, Degas). The Petit Palais is free, quieter, and covers a broader chronological range with fewer masterpieces. If you have 2 hours and want the greatest hits, choose d'Orsay. If you want a peaceful free experience, choose the Petit Palais.


Source: https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/petit-palais/ — World Museum Guide, independent and ad-free.