Moored on the left bank of the Seine, the Musée d'Orsay has become the finest showcase of 19th century arts. It faces the Louvre, the palace of the Kings of France, which sits on the opposite bank. Orsay was originally designed to house the Conseil d'Etat, and was burnt during the Paris Commune. Converted into a station in 1900, Orsay welcomed visitors to the World's Fair, and later, the ex-prisoners of 1945. Since 1986, the magnificent steel vessel has been the showcase of the world's largest collection of impressionist works, among which are masterpieces by Manet, Degas, Courbet, Monet and Renoir. "Orsay as you have never seen it before!