
MM Editor•Apr 19, 2026
Musée Picasso Paris — The Artist's Life in a 17th-Century Parisian Mansion
At a Glance
The Musée national Picasso-Paris occupies the 17th-century Hôtel Salé in the Marais. Opened 1985, reopened 2014 after a five-year renovation. Holds the world's largest Picasso collection — about 5,000 works.
Born from an Inheritance Tax
After Picasso's death in 1973, France's dation en paiement scheme let his heirs hand over 1,500 works to settle estate tax. His private Cézanne, Renoir, Matisse and Rousseau collections came too.
Must-See
- La Vie (1903), Blue Period masterpiece.
- Olga in an Armchair (1917).
- Studies for Les Demoiselles d'Avignon.
- Bull's Head (1942) sculpture from bicycle parts.
- Le Baiser (1969) late expressionism.
Visiting Tips
Saint-Paul metro. €14. 2 hours. Closed Mondays. Marais + Beaubourg makes a strong day pairing.