3 cool museums to escape the heat without shying away from culture

In summer, if you’re looking to escape the heat but still get your fix of art and inspiration, some museums offer a double promise: intelligent programming in a temperate venue. Here are three places we recommend :

Japanese summer at the Musée Cernuschi: contemporary ceramics in the spotlight

Located a stone’s throw from the Parc Monceau, in a 19th-century mansion, the Musée Cernuschi houses one of Europe’s finest collections of Asian art.
As part of the Japanese summer, the museum is presenting a rare group of ten contemporary Japanese ceramics, created between 2006 and 2020, from its collections. Some of the works are on show for the first time in the prestigious Buddha Hall.

This selection pays tribute to a living, inventive artistic tradition. It is part of the history of the museum, which in 1949 was the first in France to exhibit contemporary Japanese ceramics. Even today, the museum reaffirms its commitment to contemporary Japanese ceramics, between the transmission of know-how and the renewal of forms.

From utilitarian objects linked to the tea ceremony to sculptural pieces, the exhibition explores a wealth of techniques: stoneware, porcelain, hand-fashioned decorations, varied textures… It features National Living Treasures such as Maeta Akihiro and Isesaki Jun, alongside more experimental artists such as Mihara Ken.

The diversity of approaches reveals a deep connection to matter, earth and fire, the spiritual foundations of this discipline.

📍 Salle du Bouddha, 1st floor of the Musée Cernuschi, Paris 8e
🎟️ Free admission – in the permanent collections

📍MuséeCernuschi, 7 Av. Velasquez, 75008 Paris

The Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature: an unexpected museum experience… with air-conditioning

This museum in the Marais district of Paris is as fascinating as it is disconcerting. Far from clichés, it reflects on our relationship with nature, animals and the symbolic violence of hunting.
Ancient works (tapestries, rifles, cabinets of curiosities) interact with bold contemporary installations.

This summer, the “Loup, y es-tu?” exhibition explores the figure of the wolf in the collective Western imagination, between ancestral fear and romantic fascination.
The entire tour is offered in a perfectly air-conditioned environment, allowing visitors to take full advantage of a place that is both dense and immersive.

📍Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature, 62 Rue des Archives, 75003 Paris

The Musée Bourdelle: a sanctuary of sculpture and freshness

Not very popular with tourists, the Musée Bourdelle offers a haven of artistic peace in the 15th arrondissement.
The former studio of sculptor Antoine Bourdelle has been transformed into a museum of his monumental works, drawings and period furniture.

At present, the exhibition “Bourdelle et la matière” (until October 20, 2025) questions the link between sculpture and architecture through a sober, almost meditative staging.
The rooms are spacious, silent and carefully air-conditioned.
The interior garden, shaded and accessible, prolongs the visit in a contemplative atmosphere rare in Paris.

📍Musée Bourdelle, 18 Rue Antoine Bourdelle, 75015 Paris

You’ll have no excuse to avoid museums this summer.
And if you get there early, you’ll almost have them all to yourself.

For more ideas for refreshing outings : Our summer 2025 selection on Paris Select