Musée national des arts asiatiques - Guimet

The limestone facade of the Musée Guimet features a prominent, curved rotunda that breaks the rigid street line of the sixteenth arrondissement. Industrialist Émile Guimet built this collection in the eighteen eighties to house the vast array of Asian statues and artifacts he gathered during his travels in Japan, China, and India. He wanted to help the public understand Eastern religions. During the museum's opening year, Guimet famously staged a ceremony with Buddhist monks right here in the main hall.