Paris Tickets

Quick Information

ADDRESS

77 Rue de Varenne, 75007 Paris, France

RECOMMENDED DURATION

2 hours

VISITORS PER YEAR

700000

Did you know?

The Thinker, one of Rodin’s most famous sculptures, was originally conceived as part of his monumental work The Gates of Hell.

The museum’s gardens feature over 180 figures on The Gates of Hell, including early versions of The Kiss and Ugolin.

Rodin’s breakthrough piece, The Age of Bronze, was so lifelike that critics initially accused him of casting it from a live model.

What makes the Rodin Museum such a masterpiece?

Hotel Biron in Paris, showcasing its classic architecture and garden.
Rodin Museum sculpture exhibition featuring "The Three Shades" in Paris garden.
Marble sculpture of a sleeping woman at Rodin Museum, Paris.
Sculpture of embracing figures by Camille Claudel at Rodin Museum, Paris.
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A museum born from the artist’s vision

Unlike most museums, the Rodin Museum was created by the artist himself. Auguste Rodin chose the elegant 18th-century Hôtel Biron as his creative sanctuary: a place where art, architecture, and nature would merge. He later donated his works to France, ensuring they’d remain here for all to see. Walking through its halls feels like stepping inside the artist’s world.

Art that breathes in nature

The museum’s gardens are as much a part of the experience as the artworks themselves. Bronze masterpieces like The Thinker, The Gates of Hell, and The Burghers of Calais emerge among rose bushes and reflective pools. It’s one of the few museums where you can admire world-famous sculptures under open skies: a peaceful blend of art and atmosphere.

An intimate look at Rodin’s process

Inside the mansion, you’ll find not just the final works, but also plaster studies, sketches, and fragments that reveal Rodin’s creative evolution. These raw, unfinished pieces, from hands and torsos to clay models, show the artist’s obsession with movement and emotion.

A dialogue between art and love

The museum also celebrates Rodin’s relationship with sculptor Camille Claudel, whose works are displayed alongside his. Their artistic and emotional bond adds another layer to the museum’s story, giving visitors a glimpse into both the genius and vulnerability behind the art.

Highlights of Rodin Museum

Discover the Musée Rodin’s iconic treasures, from The Thinker and The Kiss to the monumental Gates of Hell. Wander through the elegant Hôtel Biron and its sculpture garden, where art and nature come together in a timeless Parisian setting.

Rodin Museum sculpture surrounded by lush greenery.

Sculpture Garden

Where: Outdoor grounds of the museum

Set against views of the Eiffel Tower and Les Invalides Dome, the Sculpture Garden blends landscape and sculpture in perfect harmony. Across nearly three hectares, stroll among Rodin’s great bronzes—The Gates of Hell, Balzac, and The Burghers of Calais—framed by seasonal flowers and shaded paths. The gentle rhythm of art and greenery makes this one of Paris’s most poetic outdoor spaces.

Hôtel Biron surrounded by lush gardens under a blue sky.

Hotel Biron

Where: Main museum building

The 18th-century Hôtel Biron, once Rodin’s residence and studio, now houses the museum’s permanent collection in 18 beautifully restored rooms. Exhibits unfold chronologically, tracing the artist’s development through clay, plaster, bronze, and marble. Sunlit galleries, carved wooden panels, and tall windows overlooking the gardens create a refined setting for Rodin’s masterpieces.

Sculpture Garden Pavilion

Marble Gallery

Where: Sculpture Garden Pavilion

This light-filled space celebrates Rodin’s mastery of marble — a material he shaped with rare sensitivity. Here, sculptures appear to emerge from the stone itself, half-formed yet filled with emotion. The play of texture and light highlights Rodin’s distinctive balance between realism and abstraction.

Sculptures in the Plaster Gallery at Rodin Museum, Paris, showcasing intricate figures.

Plaster Gallery

Where: Pavilion near the main garden

For a glimpse into Rodin’s workshop, visit the Plaster Gallery, where original casts and models reveal how the sculptor built his works step by step. You’ll see how fragments of bodies, gestures, and expressions were assembled into monumental creations. It’s a rare chance to witness the artist’s evolving creative process.

Rodin Museum garden with sculpture and historic building in Paris.

The Courtyard

Where: Entrance courtyard, Hôtel Biron

Before stepping inside, pause in the museum’s central courtyard. The symmetrical façade of the Hôtel Biron frames several outdoor bronzes, offering a serene transition between Paris’s bustle and Rodin’s world. It’s also one of the best vantage points to appreciate the building’s 18th-century architecture and its quiet elegance.

Guide explaining sculptures at Rodin Museum exhibit.

Camille Claudel Gallery

Where: Inside the Hôtel Biron, first floor

Dedicated to Camille Claudel, Rodin’s student, muse, and artistic equal, this gallery explores the complex creative bond between the two sculptors. Claudel’s emotionally charged works, such as The Age of Maturity and The Waltz, stand beside Rodin’s, offering a striking contrast in style and spirit. The room captures both her brilliance and the profound influence she had on Rodin’s artistic evolution.

A brief timeline of Rodin Museum

  • 1908: The artist’s retreat: Auguste Rodin moves into the Hôtel Biron, a grand 18th-century mansion in Paris, using it as his studio and showroom. Surrounded by gardens, it becomes his creative sanctuary.
  • 1916: A gift to France: Rodin donates all his works, along with drawings, archives, and the Hôtel Biron itself, to the French state, on the condition that it be turned into a museum dedicated to his art.
  • 1919: The Musée Rodin opens: Three years after his death, the Rodin Museum officially opens its doors, housing over 6,000 sculptures, 8,000 drawings, and thousands of photographs.
  • 1950s–1980s: Growth and restoration: The museum expands its collections and restores both the gardens and Hôtel Biron’s interiors, maintaining Rodin’s original artistic vision.
  • 2000s: A modern renaissance: With a renewed focus on accessibility and preservation, the museum modernizes its exhibitions while retaining its historical soul.
  • 2015: The rebirth of Hôtel Biron: After major renovations, the Hôtel Biron reopens with redesigned rooms and improved lighting, allowing visitors to see Rodin’s sculptures just as he did.

Rodin in art & culture

Sculptures in the garden of the Rodin Museum, Paris, with historic building in background.

🎨 Art that inspired art

Rodin’s influence can be seen across generations: his expressive realism and emotional depth inspired artists like Picasso, Giacometti, and Brancusi. His muse, Camille Claudel, also developed a distinct style that reshaped modern sculpture.

Visitors walking through Rodin Museum gardens on a private guided tour.

🎬 On screen & stage

Rodin’s story has been reimagined in films like Camille Claudel (1988) and Rodin (2017), both exploring the intertwined genius and tragedy of his life and love. His works, especially The Thinker, have appeared in countless films, from Midnight in Paris (2011) to The Simpsons.

Visitors observing The Gates of Hell sculpture at Rodin Museum, Paris.

📚 In literature & philosophy

Writers such as Rainer Maria Rilke, who once worked as Rodin’s secretary, immortalized the artist’s creative process. His philosophy of “truth through form” continues to echo in art criticism and modern aesthetics.

The artistry & architecture of the Rodin Museum

Originally built as an 18th-century mansion, the Hôtel Biron became Rodin’s studio in 1908 and later, the museum we know today. Its grand Rococo rooms, flooded with natural light, were ideal for showcasing the sculptor’s play of shadow and form.

Rather than a conventional museum, Rodin envisioned a space that mirrored his creative process, from clay studies to finished bronzes. The restoration preserved its parquet floors, carved wood panels, and high windows, blending classical architecture with the raw emotion of modern sculpture.

Beyond the walls, the Sculpture Garden extends his vision outdoors: nearly three hectares of lawns, trees, and pathways dotted with masterpieces like The Thinker and The Gates of Hell, where art and nature flow together in perfect harmony.

Immersing yourself in the world of Rodin

Tourists viewing The Kiss sculpture at the Rodin Museum in Paris.

Every visit to the Musée Rodin is as much about atmosphere as art. After exploring the Hôtel Biron and its gardens, pause amid the sculptures at Café-Restaurant L’Augustine, where seasonal dishes are served on a terrace surrounded by greenery.

Enhance your visit with the audio guide, which offers more than two hours of expert insights into Rodin’s works and creative journey. Families can dive into an interactive tablet treasure hunt for children aged six and up — a playful way to explore art through storytelling.

Before leaving, wander into the museum shop, where you’ll find beautiful books, reproductions, jewelry, and textiles, a thoughtful way to carry a piece of Rodin’s artistry home with you.

Frequently asked questions about Rodin Museum

Is the Hôtel Biron still in its original state?

Mostly, yes. The building retains its 18th-century Rococo architecture, restored parquet floors, and ornate wall panels, blending elegance with artistic history.

Can I visit Camille Claudel’s works here?

Absolutely. The museum features a dedicated room for Camille Claudel, showcasing her powerful sculptures and her artistic dialogue with Rodin.

Are all of Rodin’s works original bronzes?

Not necessarily. Rodin often created clay and plaster models that were later cast in bronze by different foundries, even posthumously. Each bronze is considered an original as long as it was made from his authorized molds.

Can visitors see Rodin’s creative process?

Yes, the museum exhibits clay sketches, plaster casts, and unfinished pieces, showing how Rodin built emotion and movement layer by layer, turning raw material into living form.

Does the museum include any of Rodin’s personal collections?

It does. Rodin was an avid collector of antiquities, and you’ll find ancient Greek, Roman, and Egyptian sculptures that influenced his artistic philosophy of studying the human body.

What’s the difference between the indoor and outdoor exhibits?

The indoor galleries show Rodin’s creative process: clay models, plasters, and marbles, while the outdoor garden highlights large bronzes interacting with natural light and landscape.

Do they host any special exhibitions?

Yes, the museum frequently holds temporary exhibitions featuring Rodin’s contemporaries, modern sculptors, or thematic displays that compare Rodin’s influence on later art.

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Rodin's The Thinker statue against a blue sky at The Muse.

Timings

Rodin Museum sculpture in garden setting, Paris, on private guided tour.

Sculpture Garden

Rodin Museum garden with The Thinker sculpture in Paris, France.

The Thinker