Musée royal de Mariemont

About the museum

The Domaine de Mariemont has a long history: Mary of Hungary had a hunting lodge built there in 1546, and later the archdukes Albert and Isabella made it a royal residence. Charles of Lorraine built a neoclassical palace there in 1741, which was set on fire by French troops in 1794. In 1829 the industrialist Nicolas Warocqué acquired part of the forest and created an English-style park there.

Between 1892 and 1917 Raoul Warocqué, the last and most famous member of the family, assembled an international collection there. On his death in 1917 he bequeathed the estate to the public, on condition that the castle be opened to visitors. The Belgian State became owner in 1920, and Paul Faider and his wife Germaine Faider-Feytmans turned the castle into a museum, which officially received that status in 1939. The castle was ravaged by a fire on 25 December 1960. A modern building by architect Roger Bastin opened in 1975 under the name Musée royal de Mariemont. Since 1991 the estate has belonged to the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles.

The permanent collections, which are free, are divided into seven sections: Egyptian and Near Eastern antiquities, Greek and Roman antiquities, regional and estate archaeology, decorative arts (including porcelain), non-European arts, regional and estate history, and rare books.

Highlights

• Egyptian, Near Eastern, Greek and Roman antiquities
• Decorative arts, including porcelain, and non-European arts
• Regional archaeology and history of Hainaut
• Collection of rare books
• The estate park, free to visit all year round

Permanent exhibition

• Collections permanentes – A route through seven sections, from Egyptian, Near Eastern, Greek and Roman antiquities to the archaeology and history of Hainaut, decorative arts, non-European arts and rare books.

Founded

1939

Operated by

Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Free admission: Temporary exhibitions are free on the first Sunday of the month, on 21 July, on 27 September, on the Parks and Gardens of Wallonia weekend (first weekend of June) and during the Journées du Patrimoine (Heritage Days).

The permanent collections are free and individual visits require no booking. The adult rate of €9 applies to temporary exhibitions. Free admission to temporary exhibitions for Friends of Mariemont, young people aged 0 to 18, Belgian teachers, students aged 19 to 26 under agreement, staff of the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, press, and holders of museumPASSmusées or the ICOM card.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum is fully accessible to people with reduced mobility and to pushchairs; wheelchairs and seat-canes are available. A disabled parking space is near the museum (announced by intercom at the estate's entrance gates). The museum holds the Access-i label. The estate is only partly accessible because of steep slopes.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Stroller-friendly

The “Itinéraire bis” route offers a different visit on the first Sunday afternoon of each month (outside temporary exhibition periods). A visit booklet to download or request at reception, and the free Marmaille&Co playful bag for ages 6 to 12, help children discover the collections. A playful walk in the park offers a map and a game booklet. Thematic courses are designed for children from age 3.

Getting there & parking

From the park entrance, allow about 10 minutes on foot to the museum. The estate is about 30 minutes from Charleroi and Mons and about 1 hour from Brussels.

Amenities & dining

• Restaurant
• Museum shop

Brasserie “L'instant Mariemont” and terrace. Shop with an online shop. Dogs are not admitted in the park, even on a lead, as it is a bird reserve.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Up to 250 guests.

Spaces for 10 to 250 people (including the Auditoire Boël and the museum hall), with or without catering, for lectures, events and private evenings; a guided visit is possible.

Plan your visit