Fondation Cartier Paris – A Museum For Today's New Artists

Looking for an off-the-beaten track Paris museum experience? Let us introduce you to Fondation Cartier, an edgy, modern museum sprung from the imagination of the French luxury giant famous for their watches.

Launched in 1984 by Cartier, its lofty goal is to boost young artists' chances to reach a larger audience, and in a museum setting. Let's discover what you can expect at this open-air, living art museum on Boulevard Raspail in the 14th Arrondissement.

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Experience the Splendor Of Versailles

Versailles with Priority Access + Classic Lunch
Skip the long lines to experience the grandeur of Versailles on a guided tour. Stroll through the stunning gardens then meet up for lunch on the Grand Canal. Hotel pick-up is included.
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Half-Day, Skip-the-Line Tour of Versailles
If you don't have a full day, this popular half-day tour of Versailles includes priority access with an expert guide. The small-group ensures personal attention and includes transportation right from your hotel.
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Versailles with Priority Access + Classic Lunch
Skip the long lines to experience the grandeur of Versailles on a guided tour. Stroll through the stunning gardens then meet up for lunch on the Grand Canal. Hotel pick-up is included.
More information…

Fondation Cartier & Jean Nouvel

Fondation Cartier

Although its proper name is the Fondation Cartier Paris Pour l'art Contemporain, locals just call it the Fondation Cartier. When it first opened, Cartier chose a location near near Versailles; a decade later the museum moved to a leafy location on Boulevard Raspail, a street in Paris with a long history. Naturally, they hired the best architect, Jean Nouvel, to design a modern glass and steel structure. (This was before Nouvel became more famous for buildings like Musée du Quai Branly and the Philharmonie de Paris.) In this airy, natural setting, modern exhibitions and artistic productions come to life.

Nouvel's aim was to marry the building's interior with the surrounding historic parkland. He accomplished this by creating a glass curtain wall around the garden, in addition to using glass for the building itself. The trees and and garden greenery blend seamlessly into the glass surfaces and add a dimension of naturalness to the setting. On the ground level, sliding eight-metre-high glass panels open to expose the lobby to the outdoor courtyard.

Now a creative space for artists Fondation Cartier is dedicated to promoting contemporary art. Each year, temporary exhibitions feature multi-media shows integrating painting, drawing, video, sculpture, performance art and photography. One of the most popular events is the Nomadic Nights, focused on the performing arts. Fondation Cartier's permanent collection has 1,500 works from more than 350 artists from around the globe.

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Go Deeper Into France: Day Trips From Paris

Small-Group Loire Valley Chateaux & Wine Tasting Trip from Paris
Journey to the magical castles of the Loire Valley in on a day trip that also features a guided tasting of the best regional wines. This small-group tour travels in a luxury Eurovan.
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Mysterious Mont Saint-Michel
The magnificent floating island of Mont Saint-Michel is a sight to behold. Travel through the picturesque Normandy countryside with an expert guide on a day trip from Paris that includes a cider tasting
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Small-Group Loire Valley Chateaux & Wine Tasting Trip from Paris
Journey to the magical castles of the Loire Valley in on a day trip that also features a guided tasting of the best regional wines. Your small group travels in a luxury Eurovan.
Check Availability…

The Garden

The Garden

The garden of the Fondation Cartier, a modern woodland filled with wild flowers, was created by the German conceptual artist Lothar Baumgarten. Its name, the Theatrum Botanicum, dates back to the Middle Ages when monks would take grow and tend to medicinal and aromatic plants.

Nomadic Nights

Since 1994 the foundation's Nomadic Nights have featured contemporary artists presenting their works at the Fondation Cartier's exhibition spaces and garden for an evening spectacle. Events are scheduled throughout the year, so check the schedule to find out the upcoming events.

Architectural Tours

Fondation Cartier offers free guided tours during the week. After an overview presentation, the tour takes you on a discovery of the Jean Nouvel-designed building and its architecture. Check the website to find out when the next tour is offered.

Une Petite History of the Cartier Brand

Fondation Cartier

Cartier, the iconic French luxury brand, was founded in Paris in 1847 by Louis-François Cartier. It has a long royal history. King Edward VII called them "the jeweller of kings and the king of jewellers." For his coronation, he commissioned two dozen tiaras from Cartier.

After Edward VII's stamp of approval, commissions for Cartier products rolled in from royal families in Spain, Portugal, Russia, Greece, Serbia, Romania, Egypt and Monaco. Today, Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, favors the Cartier Ballon Bleu watch.

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Find Hotel Deals for Your Dates in Paris

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Find Hotel Deals for Your Dates in Paris

Save on hotels in every arrondissement of Paris – the Latin Quarter, Saint Germain, the Right Bank, the Marais, near the Eiffel Tower. Save 10%, 20%… or even more!
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Fondation Cartier Resources

  • FONDATION CARTIER POUR L'ART CONTEMPORAIN
  • 261 Boulevard Raspail
  • 14th Arrondissement
  • Metro – Raspail or Denfert-Rochereau
  • Open Tuesday to Sunday, 11 AM to 8PM
  • Late night Tuesday until 10 PM
  • Website

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