Fondation Louis Vuitton — Frank Gehry’s Glass Sails Above the Bois de Boulogne, a Striking Contemporary Art Museum on the Edge of a 19th-Century Paris Park

Step inside one of the strangest, most beautiful buildings in Paris: the Fondation Louis Vuitton, Frank Gehry’s glass-sailed art museum on the edge of the Bois de Boulogne. In this episode of Walking Tour of France, we trace the building’s origin story – from a fateful visit to the Guggenheim Bilbao, through a decade-long legal fight over a public footpath, to the robot-molded concrete and hand-curved glass that finally brought Gehry’s sketch of a fleet of sails to life in 2014.The tour walks you from the mirrored water garden out front, through an intimate underground gallery, up past a glowing fish-shaped sculpture, and out onto rooftop terraces with sweeping views toward the Eiffel Tower and La Défense. Along the way, you’ll pick up practical tips on timed tickets, the best light for photos, and a quieter terrace most visitors miss.We also cover where to eat nearby – the Michelin-trained kitchen at Le Frank inside the museum, and the relaxed garden terrace of La Terrasse du Jardin next door – plus nearby sites worth adding to your day, including the Jardin d’Acclimatation amusement park, the rose gardens of the Parc de Bagatelle, and the Impressionist masterpieces of the Musée Marmottan Monet.Visit NorthStarTravelers.com to explore our other podcast shows and browse gear recommendations for wherever your next journey takes you.