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Origin and history

The Cernuschi Museum is a Parisian museum dedicated to the arts of the Far East, including those of China, Japan, Korea and Vietnam. It houses more than 15,000 works, including a major collection of Chinese bronzes and the famous Buddha of Meguro, a monumental 18th-century Japanese statue. Ranked among the oldest municipal museums in Paris, it is the second museum dedicated to Asian arts in France and the fifth in Europe for Chinese art.

Founded by the legacy of Henri Cernuschi in 1896, the museum opened its doors in 1898 in the donor's former mansion near Monceau Park. This financier and collector brought back from his trip to the Far East emblematic pieces, like the Buddha of Meguro, which today dominates the central hall. The hotel, designed by architect William Bouwens van der Boijen, now houses more than 900 works in permanent exhibition, mainly dedicated to Chinese art, as well as high quality Korean and Vietnamese collections.

From 2001 to 2005, the museum underwent a complete renovation to modernize its spaces and enhance its collections, including paintings by the Ming and Qing dynasties, as well as works by modern Chinese artists who lived in Paris. Temporary exhibitions allow visitors to discover spare parts, including Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese objects. Managed by Paris Museums since 2013, the museum welcomes about 60,000 visitors a year, confirming its status as a reference in Europe for Asian art.

The Cernuschi Museum is distinguished by its specialization in Asian arts, with special attention to Chinese bronzes, considered one of the most important collections in the world. It also offers a course dedicated to new acquisitions, integrated into permanent galleries. Its location in the 8th arrondissement, served by Villiers Metro Station, makes it an accessible place in the heart of Paris, close to Parc Monceau.

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