Musée Nissim de Camondo

This is a lovely small museum in a convenient location near Villiers Metro stop. We especially liked seeing the mansion’s kitchen, servants’ dining room, servants’ prep room off the formal dining room, bedrooms, and bathrooms. Many museums do not show these areas. Entry is free with the Paris Museum Pass.

Exquisite museum, beautiful real estate, sublime objects d’art! Great location at the Parc Monceau, one of Paris’ really nice gardens! The only drawback is the history of the family, divorce, son killed in WWI and daughter & family killed in the Holocaust. But the heritage remains, just amazing!

Superbe musée ! Retraçant la vie d’un famille richissime ayant un goût pronnoncé pour la collection d’objets et de mobiliers du 18ème !

For the fact that Adrienne above has stated that it is her favorite museum in Paris, I stand with PRIDE!!!
Of course there is Le Louvre, one of the world’s greatest of museums and the foremost in Paris.
However, Musee nissim de Camondo tells the story of the Jewish community of Paris, as well as a celebration of the history of Judaism. If one is studying or interested in the Jewish heritage, this should not be overlooked.

Un musée encore trop méconnu à Paris. Le plus beau à Paris pour visiter le fonctionnement d’un hôtel particulier aux 18e et 19e siècles. Et pleins de choses à visiter en plus aux alentours, dans la superbe plaine Monceau !

I find visiting the Louvre painful. Way too many crowds to lose yourself in the art. And the sheer size of the museum and the varied collection can be overwhelming. So the museums that really appealed to me in Paris are those smaller collections with a specific point of view. More passionate and more personal. That is certainly the case of the Musée Nissim de Camondo.
The gorgeous estate is dedicated to the glory of 18^th century French architecture, art and furnishings. The owner, Moïse de Camondo, was obsessed with 18^th century France and had a perfectionist’s zeal for designing a masterpiece (although he included many 19^th century conveniences) to thrill the artistic and cultural elite during his time in Paris. His dinner parties were legendary and the home was regularly visited by artists and scholars to view the masterpieces and dine at his elegant banquets.
But, the commentary was quite stunning and bittersweet. All the money in the world (he was heir to one of the largest banking fortunes of the Ottoman Empire) could neither buy love (his wife left him), nor protect his family from two major forces of sorrow in the early 20^th century (World War 1 and the concentration camps of WW2).
Mr. de Camondo built the house for his beloved son to enjoy, but his life was cut short when he was killed in action in 1917 serving his country as a fighter pilot in WW1. Life was never the same and Mr. de Camondo all but retreated from public life and his elegant parties were drastically curtailed. He had a daughter, but she didn’t share her father’s interest and once she married, she moved out of this glorious estate and he was left to wander the halls alone. Her family (including husband and two children), were later killed in a Nazi concentration camp in WW2.
Upon his death, his will bequeathed the home and all of its furnishings to the Arts Décoratifs in his son’s name for the enjoyment of all. Although the reasons are sad, it is a joy to tour the home and listen to the excellent audio guide that really provides not just bare facts, but really describes life in that vibrant era. Highlights for me were the kitchen, the dining room with a fully set table, in anticipation of an elegant soirée with sample menu, and the oval salon with the collection of paintings describing the courtship of a shepherd and shepherdess.
It is interesting to me, that sometimes it is immigrants that most fully embrace the cultural richness and heritage of their adopted homes. That is certainly the case here. Born in Turkey, he became one of the most prominent members of French society and didn’t just write a check to fill it house with fine things. It is clear his hand was involved in every decision. One of his passions was reuniting items of a collection that had been scattered to the winds. Too bad he didn’t have as much success creating a happy home.
— — — — — -
– This museum is included in the Paris Museum Pass —
(aka the best money I ever spent in France).
– Photography (without flash) is permitted.

Beautiful house. Beautiful furnishings. Beautiful objets d’art.
Yet the tragic story made this visit a downer for me.
Monsieur de Camondo’s wife left him for another man. His son was killed in action in WWI. His daughter and her family perished in the Holocaust. Apparently they made the mistake of thinking their wealth and status would shield them from the Nazis.
Interesting audio guide. If you have the time, there are lots of details about all the various things that Monsieur de Camondo acquired.
(Small correction on Raffi M’s review — Moise de Camondo was the man who had the house built. He named the house after his beloved son Nissim. Also, according to the audioguide, Moise was not much of a banker himself, but rather a collector and aesthete. It was his father who made the family’s fortune and Moise who used that money to build the house and acquire the collection that now constitutes this museum.)

I loved this museum! I love history so much, but I particularly love the history of people. They way they lived, they way they loved, what they did with their lives — I find it all so fascinating! This house is SO BEAUTIFUL. Honestly, I can’t even explain how lovely it is. It very much comes across as a living, working, functional home, despite its grandeur. The audio commentary which is free with entry is excellent — please get this, it will enhance your visit here so much! I think it was 7.5 euros which is really reasonable, especially when you will spend a good hour or two of your day here having a thoroughly enjoyable time.
The will of mr camondo was so lovely and thought provoking. How lucky the people of france are that he left this to them in his will — and how lucky we are that is it is still a museum today, painstakingly looked after and loved by the art institute.
I highly recommend a visit here — the area round about is filled with beautiful real estate, and the parc monceau which it borders is definitely worth a walk through — on a sunny day or otherwise.

My favorite museum in Paris. Under-​rated, and therefore under-​visited. In the height of tourist season, when crowds are heavy, that makes it a particularly lovely gem.

I like this hidden jewel of a museum, but I can see why others might not. Essentially, the museum is nothing more than the spectacular house of the late 19^th century Istanbul born Jewish financier, Nissim de Camondo, a man who was obsessed with the 18^th century, complete with its furnishings. And when I say obsessed, I mean it — he built the house from the ground up to look like the Petit Trianon at versailles, all the furnishing are 18^th century, the art is 18^th century, the gardens are 18^th century, and so on. The decorative arts are beautiful, the house a masterpiece, and the gigantic kitchens a real find for the culinary tourist.
Having said all that, if seeing a grand 19^th century house pretending to be an 18^th century house isn’t your cup of tea, then I’d skip this. It’s not a must-​see.

Hôtel privé magnifique, aujourd’hui présenté comme un musée voici une maison du XVIII° siècle comme si vous y étiez, la vaisselle, les lavabos, les baignoires, les bureaux, les couverts tout est présent dans ce musée. Tout vous fait remonter le temps et malgré l’âge du mobilier et des installations, la maison est très moderne je trouve ! Un lieu à visiter, vraiment je le conseille !

Mettez-​vous dans la peau d’un nouveau et heureux gagnant de l’euro-millions et entrez dans ce musée Vous avez l’impression de visiter une demeure privée encore habitée. Il y a peu de monde, vous déambulez tranquillement dans les salons, chambres, salle-​de-​bains, cuisines. Vous terminez par un tour dans le jardin et vous ressortez en disant j’achète!
Plus qu’un musée, c’est une maisonoù on se verrait bien poser ses valises!

Tout comme le musée Cognacq-​Jay, cet hôtel particulier propose une collection d’objets et d’oeuvres d’art du XVIIIe siècle.
Sur différents étages, vous pourrez visiter et découvrir les appartements, les chambres, cuisines, salles de bains et jardins de la famille Camondo.
Voici en résumé l’histoire de la famille: deux cousins Isaac et Moïse (fils de Nissim Camondo), deviennent au XIXe siècles des collectionneurs avertis et des personnalités du monde de l’art. Isaac, dont les goûts sont éclectiques, constitue une impressionnante collection d’œuvres d’art du XVIIIe siècle, d’estampes japonaises, d’objets d’art d’Extrême-Orient et de peinture impressionniste qu’il lèguera au musée du Louvre en 1911. Moïse suit l’exemple d’Isaac mais se passionne exclusivement pour le XVIIIe siècle français. Pour présenter ses collections, il se fait construire un hôtel particulier, conforme à ses goûts.
Aujourd’hui, la famille Camondo est éteinte mais elle nous laisse un patrimoine exceptionnelle et riche, témoin de la vie bourgeoise et de l’art du siècle des Lumières.

un véritable écrin pour des objets d’art du 18e siècle. une demeure construite début 19e dans le goût d’une maison du 18e. une pure merveille. Mobilier, objets d’art, tableaux, la plupart de provenance royale (Louis XVI, Versailles, etc)
Visite libre très agréable, pour qui aime ce siècle qui nous a légué tant de beauté. petit salon de thé, agréable l’été avec sa terrasse sur le jardin.

Exquisite museum situated within walking distance of the Parc Monceau. It was formerly a private house (the Camondo family died in the Holocaust, which is a sobering thought as you wander around inside) and looks from the outside like a miniature palace whereas inside is an amazing and sumptuous collection of eighteenth century French art, displayed in room sets so that paintings and furniture come together in a dazzling fashion. Highlights include portraits by Vigée-​Lebrun and gorgeous statues. Definitely worth a visit if you are a fan of eighteenth century art and the world that vanished with the revolution.
The tea rooms are something special as well and really quite exquisite and worth a visit just for the cakes alone.

MA GNI FI QUE !!!
Très très beau musée ! D’ailleurs c’est plus qu’un musée, c’est un site exceptionnel, un hôtel particulier de 3 étages, donnant sur le parc Monceau. Le site est beau, les meubles et les tableaux décorant les pièces sont raffinées, exceptionnel et de grande valeur. Les cuisines et les salles de bain m’ont particulièrement marquée, elles sont modernes, rétro et fonctionnelles à la fois. Et enfin cet hôtel nous raconte l’histoire de cette illustre famille, dont malheureusement les 3 derniers descendants ont péri à Auschwitz.

Moïse de Camondo (1860 – 1935) war ein leidenschaftlicher Sammler von Mobiliar, Bildern, Teppichen, Tapisserien, Porzellan und Goldschmiedekunst des 18. Jahrhunderts. Nach seinem Tod wurde die Sammlung im Gedenken an seinen im 1. Weltkrieg gefallenen Sohnes Nissim dem Musée des Arts Decoratifs und dem frz. Staat vermacht. Ein Besuch des 1911 – 1914 im Stil des 18. Jahrhunderts gebaute «hôtel particulier» vermittelt einen sehr guten Einblick in das komfortable Leben einer Pratizierfamilie zu Beginn des 20. Jahrhunderts.
Öffnungszeiten: Mittwoch bis Sonntag 10.00 — 17.30

Magnifique et nostalgique
Ce musée constitué d’un hôtel particulier perpétue la mémoiré de deux périodes, celle de la collection magnifique du XVIIIème siècle avec une prédominance du goût Louis XVI, très doré, et celle du moment où l’hôtel particulier connut ses heures de gloire, soit le début du XXème siècle, la période de Proust qui fréquentait les Camondo; à cet égard la reconstitution de la dynastie éteinte à Buchenwald est particulièrement émouvante. En effet, le mobilier magnifique et l’architecture des pièces, le confort moderne des salles de bain et cuisines renvoient à deux périodes différentes. Mais le tout coexiste très harmonieusement avec vue sur le parc Monceau. Un très beau musée pour ceux qui aiment les arts décoratifs, sans trop de visiteurs. Mais en revanche j’aurais peur d’y amener de jeunes enfants, en raison de la multiplicité d’objets fragiles exposés sans vitrine, tels que Moïse de Camondo les avait installés.

Exceptionnel
Bien plus qu’un musée légué par l’une des plus grandes familles juives de l’époque à l’Etat français, le musée Nissim de Camondo est un plongeon dans la vie parisienne du XIXè siècle. On y découvre non seulement l’histoire d’une famille déchirée mais également le mode de vie de la haute bourgeoisie de cette époque, grâce à la passion de M. de Camondo pour l’art et les belles choses. La maison est parfaitement entretenue, on croirait que les propriétaires viennent de partir faire un tour, les meubles sont magnifiques et parfaitement mis en valeur. Chaque objet est un émerveillement pour les yeux. Pensez à prendre l’audioguide, sinon vous passerez à côté de beaucoup d’informations et de détails. Pour moi, cet endroit n’est pas un musée à proprement parler, c’est une maison d’exposition, absolument magnifique.