Flanked by treasures such as the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Franklin Institute and Rodin Museum, Philadelphia’s Benjamin Franklin Parkway, known as “Museum Mile,” ranks among the world’s leading cultural thoroughfares. Often drawing comparison to the Champs-Elysees, this tree-lined avenue is getting another major European accent this spring with the opening of the new home of the Barnes Foundation.

Established in 1922 in the Merion, Pa., home of founder Albert Coombs Barnes, this collection of French Impressionist, Post-Impressionist and early Modern paintings is positively breathtaking. Valued at over $6 billion and including numerous masterpieces from Renoir, Cezanne, Picasso, van Gogh, Degas and other luminaries, its relocation to Philadelphia’s museum district is among the biggest international art stories this year—and destined to forever cement Philadelphia’s place as a global cultural destination.

“The move of the Barnes Foundation helps shine a light on Philadelphia’s vibrant cultural scene, and on everything that our visitors love to do,” said Meryl Levitz, president and CEO of Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation in a statement.

The spirit of Barnes’ founding vision to “promote the advancement of education and the appreciation of the fine arts” is found throughout Pennsylvania.