Paris has some of the most amazing museums of the world, and when re-visited Paris for the third time earlier this summer, I challenged myself to see as many museums as possible. But the weather was so perfect that I didn’t want spend too much time inside crowded and gloomy museum hallways — summer in Paris is just too magical to not experience it outside.

So I was really glad when my lovely museum date Edna suggested that we should go see Musée Rodin. This museum in the 7th arrondissement wasn’t originally on the list of museums I wanted to visit this time in Paris, but since the gardens were supposed to be gorgeous, I was excited to go. And I was not disappointed!

The museum is dedicated to Auguste Rodin, who was a French sculptor born in 1840, and his work is considered to be the starting point of modern sculpture. Rodin’s sculptures are sometimes very realistic and human, sometimes confusing and slightly grotesque. And even though I’m not that much into modern sculpture, Museé Rodin was a wonderful museum: The atmosphere, the location, the views of the Eiffel Tower and Hôtel des Invalides — I loved it all! The artist himself even used to live in the pretty former palace building, and its majestically artistic aura can still be sensed today.

The museum is beautiful inside and I found it to be a perfect place for experimenting with my photography — the architecture is simple, but peppered with wonderful little details like the ornamental balustrade, or black and white tiles. The exposition rooms are light-flooded and often appointed with mirrors.

But the undeniable highlight of our visit were the gardens. Visiting in early June was perfect timing: The famous roses in the gardens of Musée Rodin were in full bloom!

The combination of roses in every possible color, warm summer sunshine, and beautiful architecture was simply amazing. We might have taken even more photos of roses than the sculptures in the gardens, but we just couldn’t help ourselves.

Visiting Musée Rodin was nothing I had planned before I arrived in Paris, but I loved every second of it — it’s a beautifully different museum experience, especially in June!

Have you been to Museé Rodin?

Additional tips: Just like every other museum in Paris, Musée Rodin offers free entry to European residents under the age of 26. And: You can take your bags inside, so make sure to bring a picnic and enjoy it on the loungers in the beautiful gardens!