This ambitious project, instigated by Jacques Chirac (a fanatic of primary arts) and conducted by Jean Nouvel, opened its doors on June 20, 2006. It met with immediate success. It reached the 4 million visitors mark in February 2009! Musée du quai Branly contains collections of objects from civilizations of Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Americas. The works are categorized continent by continent. The relatively recent notion of "primary art" has been contested by anthropologists on the grounds that it suggests the works in question are of a primitive nature; nowadays, this conception is widely questioned. The museum has a vocation to evolve so as to represent all civilizations (the Inuits of the Far North and Canadian works, for example, are, as yet, hardly featured here). In addition to the permanent exhibits, temporary exhibitions are organized in the various galleries of Galerie Jardin. Thanks to the museum’s two restaurants (Café Branly, overlooking the garden, and Les Ombres, on the River Seine side), visitors can enjoy a moment of relaxation over lunch. The view of the Seine and the Eiffel Tower from the sun lounge of Les Ombres restaurant is nothing short of breathtaking! For practical purposes, the internet site provides visit plans, depending on how much visiting time you have. Musée du quai Branly, 37, quai Branly 75007 Paris Tel: +33 1 56 61 70 00 Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Sundays: from 11am to 7pm Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays: from 11am to 9pm www.quaibranly.fr