A Romantic Day in Montmartre: The Musée de la Vie Romantique

There are corners of Paris that feel as though time has softened around their edges, allowing the past to shimmer gently through the present. Montmartre, with its steep cobblestones and quiet enclaves, holds many such places - but none more tenderly than the Musée de la Vie romantique. This guide invites you into an afternoon shaped by art, history, and literary reverie, offering an itinerary that blends elegance with ease. Here, you can wander slowly, breathe deeply, and let Paris speak in its softest voice.

MUSÉE ROMANTIQUE

The Musée de la Vie romantique (Museum of Romantic Life, or Museum of the Romantics) stands at the foot of Montmartre hill in the 9th arrondissement of Paris.

The main pavilion, built in 1830, was the Paris base of the Dutch-born painter Ary Scheffer (1795–1858), one of the prominent artists of the time, close to King Louis-Philippe and his family. For decades, Scheffer and his daughter hosted Friday-evening salons, among the most famous in La Nouvelle Athènes. George Sand (1804–1876) used to come as a neighbour with Frédéric Chopin, meeting Eugène Delacroix, Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, Alphonse de Lamartine, Franz Liszt, Gioacchino Rossini and singer Pauline Viardot.

A Romantic Afternoon

The property remained in private hands and passed by descent until 1982 when it became a museum, under the name of "Musée Renan-Scheffer". It is one of the City of Paris' three literary museums, along with the Maison de Balzac and the Maison de Victor Hugo.

After an extensive renovation conducted by Jacques Garcia under the direction of Anne-Marie de Brem, it reopened in 1987 as "Musée de la Vie romantique".

While the permanent exhibition is free, the temporary exhibits are so well curated. I absolutely love the calm, quiet nature of these spaces. And the outdoor cafe and atrium is a perfect respite for a cup of coffee or tea and reflecting on the experience.