Fondation Louis Vuitton

The Fondation Louis Vuitton is Paris's most striking modern building: Frank Gehry's glass-and-steel creation in the Bois de Boulogne, with twelve curved glass sails that look like a ship about to leave the park. Inside, the galleries host rotating exhibitions of modern and contemporary art, with permanent installations and works by major artists. Terraces climb between the glass sails for views toward La Défense and the Eiffel Tower, and a premium-access ticket helps you skip the longest lines.

Opened in 2014, the Fondation Louis Vuitton was designed by Frank Gehry, the architect of the Guggenheim in Bilbao, and is among the most photographed buildings in contemporary Paris. Set at the edge of the Jardin d'Acclimatation in the Bois de Boulogne, the building consists of an iceberg-like core wrapped in twelve enormous glass sails that seem to float above the water of a small cascade. The effect changes with the weather and the time of day, from silvery in the morning to glowing at dusk.

Inside, the foundation is a serious art institution. Its galleries host exhibitions that rotate regularly, often devoted to major figures of modern and contemporary art or to themed shows drawn from museums and private collections around the world. Alongside the temporary programs there are permanent works and commissioned installations, including pieces designed for the building itself. The exhibition spaces are on several levels, connected by staircases and walkways that make moving through the building an experience in itself.

One of the great pleasures is the outside. Terraces step up between the glass sails and offer views over the Bois de Boulogne, across to the skyscrapers of La Défense and, on a clear day, toward the Eiffel Tower. Walking the rooftop terraces and watching the sails from underneath is as memorable as many of the artworks, and architecture lovers will find plenty to study in the way the structure meets the water and the trees.

Getting there is part of the plan. A dedicated shuttle runs from the Place Charles de Gaulle near the Arc de Triomphe, and the nearest metro stop is Les Sablons, a short walk through the Jardin d'Acclimatation. Tickets are timed, and a premium-access option keeps the entry smooth. Plan for about two hours, add a coffee in the foundation's café, and check which exhibitions are on and the weekly closing day before you set out, since the programs change several times a year.

Go with a plan for the day. A morning visit combines nicely with a walk through the Jardin d'Acclimatation, the century-old children's park next door, and a picnic or lunch in the Bois de Boulogne. If you prefer a longer afternoon, take the shuttle from the Arc de Triomphe after climbing the monument, so the two landmarks frame a single outing.

Photographers will want to arrive when the light is softest, and the glass sails give the best reflections at the start or end of the day. Check which exhibitions are running, since each season's program changes the experience. Bring a light layer for the terraces, which can be breezy, and allow time to simply sit and watch the building change with the clouds.