When I think of Paris and its beloved history of arts, there are generally two styles that come to mind — over-the-top, gilded Rococo and the comparatively simpler, rawer, Impressionism.

Located in the shadow of the gilded Louvre, the Musée de l’Orangerie is a thoroughly modern space dedicated to the works of Impressionist and post-Impressionist artists. The museum is largely centered around the Nymphéas, an installation of Claude Monet’s illustrious water-lily paintings that takes up an entire floor of the museum. The painting wraps around the walls, surrounding you as you enter into the space — if ever you’ve wondered what it’s like to live in a painting, this may just be the closest you’ll get to finding out.

Entrance is 5€ for those of you with a student id; full-rate is 7.50€. The museum is free on the first Sunday of each month. Also, there’s a 2€ surcharge for the temporary exhibitions.