Undoubtedly the most famous museum in France, the Louvre plays host to the rarest art in the world. The Louvre website offers remote tourists a chance to make a virtual visit. Viewing the Louvre facility via the museum's Quick Time plug-in provides the opportunity to learn about Egyptian antiquities, Islamic art and of course, the works of masters like Leonardo da Vinci. There is more to see at the Louvre than art. The Louvre museum, one of the renowned architectural structures in the world, is housed inside the Louvre Palace. This impressive construction began as a fortress built in the late 12th century under the reign of Philip II. Among the famous works available at this museum are Canova's Psyche Revived by Cupid's Kiss, Venus de Milo and the Mona Lisa.
This former railway station, now world-famous museum is situated on the left bank of the Seine River. The Musée d'Orsay houses French art that dates back to 1848. Known for its rare collection of impressionist and post-impressionist masterpieces, the Musée plays host to masters like Monet, Cezanne, Degas and Renoir. Virtual tours of the collections held at the Musée is available at two sites. The official website at Musee-orsay.fr offers a slide exhibit of the museum's renowned art. For a virtual adventure, Paris.arounder.com provides a full-screen virtual tour of key areas within the Musée d'Orsay and an up-close and personal look at works by such artists as Vincent Van Gogh.
Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie is the largest science museum in Europe. This site, established by Giscard d'Estaing, specializes in fostering scientific and technological education and sits in the Parc de la Villette in Paris. The museum caters to the young with a planetarium, submarine exhibit and distinct departments for hands-on interaction for children and teens. The website Paris.arounder.com offers a virtual tour of Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie complete with looks at each of the main components of this museum.
