Le Belvédère

About the museum

Le Belvédère opened in 2019 in Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire. This discovery space, halfway between a museum and an interpretation center, is devoted to the history and heritage of the Abbey of Fleury. A 250-meter pedestrian path links it to the basilica.

The building was designed by the architecture firm CplusD. It evokes the basilica’s gate tower and the calm of a cloister. It has three levels and around 583 m² of permanent and temporary exhibition space.

The route traces more than fourteen centuries of abbey history with four scale models, two timelines and multimedia displays. It covers the abbey’s major phases, its influential abbots, monastic life, the architecture of the basilica and teaching in the Middle Ages. Games on history, art history and archaeology are aimed at families. From the top level you can see the basilica and its apse. The building also houses a tourist office and a shop.

Highlights

• Interactive route through the Abbey of Fleury and its 1,400 years of history
• Four scale models and two timelines
• View of the basilica and its apse from the top level
• Bilingual French–English route with games for families

Permanent exhibition

• Parcours permanent sur l'abbaye de Fleury – A timeline of 1,400 years of history, four scale models and multimedia displays on the abbey’s major phases, its abbots and the architecture of the basilica.

Founded

2019

Admission & discounts

Free with proof for tourism professionals and members of ICOM or ICOMOS. Visiting the basilica is free. The Pass Partenaire gives reduced rates at several partner sites on presentation of a Belvédère ticket: Château de Sully-sur-Loire, Château de Chamerolles, Château-musée de Gien, Musée de la Résistance in Lorris and Musée de la Marine de Loire in Châteauneuf-sur-Loire.

Accessibility

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

The route is accessible to visitors with disabilities, with an elevator, wheelchair access, audio guides, and sound and tactile content. Animals are not admitted.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Baby changing facilities

Suitable for all ages, with games and interactive displays; workshops during school holidays and family events.

Getting there & parking

By car: about 2 hours from Paris and 35 minutes from Orléans (A10 exit 14 or A77 exit 18, then RD 2060 toward Châteauneuf-sur-Loire). By bike: the Loire à Vélo passes about 900 m away, at the Saint-Benoît harbor. A 250 m footpath links Le Belvédère to the basilica.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Wi-Fi

Free luggage storage, drinking water point, toilets. The tourist office housed in the building offers free, unlimited Wi-Fi.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit