Nuit des Musées (Museum Night) in Paris.

For one night in May, museums throughout France (not just Paris) open their doors for free entry from around 6PM until 1AM. It's called "Nuit des Musées".

So tonight, I went to the official Museum Night website, nuitdesmusees.culture.fr clicked on "English" which was still mostly French and assembled an ambitious program for the night. Ambitious meaning, no way in one night could I possibly visit all the museums I clicked to "Add to my Programme".

I printed the itinerary and set out to visit the following:

1. Musee de L'Armee (Museum of the Army)
2. The Grand Palais I've always wondered what's under the big glass dome?
3. Musee National De L'Orangerie -a wonderful museum I jog past at the Jardin des Tuileries
4. Musee du Quai Branly (Africian exhibits recommended by a friend)
5. L'A ddresse Musee de la Poste (The Postal Museum...hmm?).
6. Les Arts Decoratifs (Museum of Decorative Arts...interesting beauty? eye-candy?)

Stepping inside the Museum of the Army at night, felt as if we were in the midst of a night planning military mission. Walking through the corridors made me actually feel proud of once wearing the American Military uniform.

Staring at the stitches, embroidery and embellishments of the uniforms of the 1700 and 1800's, my mind wandered to who made the uniforms?, wore them? I also wondered why I was so happy to take off my uniform the day I retired and threw it in the trash? Then I remembered, I actually did keep one set of each uniform in a box. (Service Dress Blues, Blues and Battle Dress, I kept one set of each-I gave away my Mess-Dress formal dining uniform to a friend who still wears it today.)

Consumed by The Museum of the Army at night, there was only time to visit one more museum on my list, so I rushed across the Seine to finally see what was under the big glass dome of the Grand Palais...

Musee de l'Armee at des Invalides -Paris Museum Night.

Medieval Military,

A battle demonstration.

Napoleon's Army.

Museum Night, Paris. Rushing across the River Seine.

What? Is this it? I've always wanted to know what was under the beautiful glass dome of Palais Royal.
Tonight there was nothing! If you've wondered the same, click here to take a virtual tour.

Grand Palais Dome at Night.

Nuit des Musées in Paris is yet another absolute "must do" when in Paris. Sure there were crowds, but they all moved smooth and quickly-the night was beautiful. Don't miss Museum Night next May...one night only!