Château-musée du Cayla
Country house in the Gaillac wine region, birthplace of the poet Maurice de Guérin and his sister Eugénie, now a literary museum in a 27-hectare park.
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About the museum
A hunting lodge was built at Le Cayla in the 15th century, then converted in the 18th and 19th centuries into a traditional Languedoc country house. The estate belonged to the Guérin family. The Romantic poet Maurice de Guérin (1810–1839) was born here, and his sister Eugénie (1805–1848) kept a journal here that describes life in the Tarn in the 19th century.
The house has been converted into a château-museum devoted to the two Guérins, to literature and to painting. The museum holds the “Musée de France” and “Maisons des Illustres” labels. In January 2021, its management passed from a public cultural cooperation body to a department-run service of the Tarn département.
The archives and objects of the Guérin family offer insight into life in the Tarn in the 19th century. An installation by Violaine Laveaux, created in 2009, presents a cabinet of literary and poetic curiosities. The estate covers 27 hectares of woods, meadows and streams, with walking paths including a poetic path, and hosts events on poetry, literature and the arts.
Highlights
- Birthplace of Maurice and Eugénie de Guérin
- Eugénie de Guérin's journal and family archives
- Cabinet of literary curiosities by Violaine Laveaux
- 27-hectare park with a poetic path
- Setting in the middle of the Gaillac vineyards
Permanent exhibition
- Maison des Guérin et cabinet de curiosités littéraires – Archives and objects of the Guérin family on life in the Tarn in the 19th century, and Violaine Laveaux's installation from 2009.
- Operated by
- Département du Tarn
- Visitors per year
- approx. 3,497 (2017)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €6 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €4 |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Free admission for under-18s. |
| Groups (10+ people) | –Group rate for 10 people or more; the amount is not specified. |
Free admission: First Sunday of the month, March to November, except July and August.
Payment by cheque, card or cash. Themed guided visits are free for school groups.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 17 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
Activities for children are offered; the themed tours are free for school groups.
Getting there & parking
By car
Parking available
Car park on site and nearby.
The museum is at the locality of Le Cayla, 321 impasse du Musée, in Andillac, between Cordes-sur-Ciel and Gaillac.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
Shop and toilets on site.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Themed and educational guided tours; the museum conducts them in French and English. Walking paths in the park, including a poetic path, and cultural events throughout the year. |
