Orsay Museum

Burned down in 1871. Flooded out in 1910. Slated for demolition in 1970. Gloriously revived in 1986, and now on the cusp of a major expansion. The Seine’s splendid Belle Epoque building that is the Musée d’Orsay has transformed several times to keep abreast of change: shifting royal tastes, the advent of electric trains, the ambitions of French presidents, and benefactors from faraway lands. Its collection of Impressionist art is second to none; its light-filled interior sets the standard for modern museum design. Yet the Orsay continues to push new boundaries – perfectly in keeping with the maritime-themed motto of Paris, Fluctuat nec Mergitur (Tossed but Not Sunk). In a place defined by reinvention, what transformation will it awaken in you?