Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
by this continually dispersed population. You'll learn about the history of Jewish traditions,
from bar mitzvahs to menorahs, and see the exquisite traditional costumes and objects cent-
ral to daily life. The museum also displays paintings by famous Jewish artists, including
Marc Chagall, Amedeo Modigliani, and Chaim Soutine. The English explanations posted in
manyroomsprovidesufficientexplanationformost;theincludedaudioguideprovidesgreat-
er detail.
Cost and Hours:
€7, includes audioguide, covered by Museum Pass, Sun-Fri
11:00-18:00, closed Sat, last entry 45 minutes before closing, 71 Rue du Temple; Mo: Ram-
buteau or Hôtel de Ville a few blocks farther away, RER: Châtelet-Les Halles; tel. 01 53 01
86 60,
www.mahj.org
.
This sight commemorates the lives of the more than 76,000 Jews deported from France in
World War II. It has several facets: a WWII deportation memorial, a museum on the Ho-
locaust, and a Jewish resource center. Displaying original deportation records, the museum
takes you through the history of Jews in Europe and France, from medieval pogroms to the
Nazi era. But its focal point is underground, where victims' ashes are buried.
Cost and Hours:
Free, Sun-Fri 10:00-18:00, Thu until 22:00, closed Sat and certain
Jewish holidays, south of Rue de Rivoli at 17 Rue Geoffroy l'Asnier, tel. 01 42 77 44 72,
One of Europe's greatest collections of far-out modern art is housed in the Musée National
d'Art Moderne, on the fourth and fifth floors of this colorful exhibition hall. The building
itselfis“exoskeletal” (likeNotre-Dameoracrab),withitsfunctionalparts—thepipes,heat-
ingducts,andescalator—on theoutsideandthemeaty artinside.It'stheepitome ofModern
architecture, where “form follows function.” Created ahead of its time, the 20th-century art
in this collection is still waiting for the world to catch up.
Cost and Hours:
€11-13 depending on current exhibits, free on first Sun of month, Mu-
seum Pass covers permanent collection and view escalators, €3 Panorama Ticket lets you
ride to the top for the view (doesn't include museum entry); Wed-Mon 11:00-21:00, closed
Tue, ticket counters close at 20:00, arrive after 17:00 to avoid crowds (mainly for special
exhibits); café on mezzanine, pricey view restaurant on Level 6, Mo: Rambuteau or farther-
away Hôtel de Ville, tel. 01 44 78 12 33,
www.centrepompidou.fr
.
VisitingtheMuseum:
Buyyourticketonthegroundfloor,thenrideuptheescalator(or
run up the down escalator to get in the proper mood). When you see the view, your opinion
of the Pompidou's exterior should improve a good 15 percent. Find the permanent collec-
