Just to let those interested know: we arrived at the Orangerie museum a bit before 6 pm a couple of days ago just in time to overhear a quite acrimonious complaint from an Australian tourist who needed, he said, only 10 minutes to see what he'd come to see. I rechecked my watch and realized that the closing hours must have changed; and indeed, when that gentleman had been quite politely but unyieldingly "managed" by the guards at the museum, it was my turn to learn that, starting May 6, the museum now closes at 6 pm rather than 7 pm (not sure how that makes sense as the tourist season heats up, but there you go.)
The staff insist that you have at least 45 minutes to appreciate the contents of the museum, so wouldn't let the poor guy in. Plan accordingly. . .
This coming Saturday (May 17) is La Nuit des Musees (Night of the Museums) and most museums in Paris will be open late into the night (and free!!)
We hope to visit L'Orangerie and the Louvre that night. This will be the second time in our 2 visits that we happen upon this free night, we also visited the Lourvre until about 10pm last year.