Musée Alexandre Dumas
Municipal museum in Villers-Cotterêts devoted to three generations of the Dumas family: the general, the writer Alexandre Dumas père and his son.
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About the museum
The Musée Alexandre Dumas opened in 1905 in Villers-Cotterêts. It is housed in a 19th-century mansion and belongs to the town. It has held the Musée de France label since 2002.
The route tells the story of three generations of the Dumas family. Thomas-Alexandre Davy de la Pailleterie (1762–1806) was a general of the Revolution, born into slavery in the Antilles. His son Alexandre Dumas père (1802–1870) is the author of Les Trois Mousquetaires. His grandson Alexandre Dumas fils (1824–1895) wrote La Dame aux camélias and sat in the Académie française.
The permanent collections bring together paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings, archives, letters, manuscripts and furniture. The permanent route occupies three rooms. The museum also hosts temporary exhibitions, workshops, lectures and performances throughout the year.
Highlights
- Three generations of Dumas: General Thomas-Alexandre, Alexandre Dumas père and Alexandre Dumas fils
- Paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings, manuscripts and letters
- 19th-century mansion in Villers-Cotterêts
- Guided tours on some Saturdays each month
Permanent exhibition
- Collections permanentes sur la famille Dumas – A route through three rooms presents paintings, sculptures, objects and manuscripts evoking General Dumas, Alexandre Dumas père and Alexandre Dumas fils.
- Founded
- 1905
- Operated by
- Ville de Villers-Cotterêts
- Visitors per year
- approx. 4,015
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €4.20 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €3.45over 65, job seekers and RSA recipients, large families with three or more children, students and teachers, adult groups, among others (with proof) |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Free for children under 18. |
| Seniors | €3.45Over 65. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freeFree for people with disabilities and war-disabled persons, with proof. |
| Students & apprentices | €3.45Students and teachers, with proof. |
| Groups | €3.45 per personReduced rate for adult groups; booking required for groups. |
| Guided tour | €5.05Several Saturdays a month; dates on the museum's website. |
| Event, cultural activity or performance – full price | €6.60 |
| Event, cultural activity or performance – under 18 and reduced rate | €4.50 |
| Artistic or cultural workshop – from age 18 | €6.10 |
| Artistic or cultural workshop – up to age 18 | €3.65 |
Free admission: First Sunday of every month
Also free, with proof, for ICOM members, group escorts, press card holders and new residents of Villers-Cotterêts holding the town's cultural pass. Reduced rate for holders of the Pass Découverte of the Soissonnais Valois tourist office. Payment by cash, bank card or check.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The museum is accessible to wheelchair users, except the temporary exhibition room, which is reached by six steps. Only assistance dogs are admitted.
Kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 17 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
Artistic and cultural workshops are offered, with a reduced rate up to age 18. Admission is free for children under 18.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Gare de Villers-Cotterêts · 10-min walk
Villers-Cotterêts SNCF station, about 10 minutes on foot from the museum.
By car: about 1 hour from Paris (A1, then A104 toward Soissons, then RN2), about 30 minutes from Compiègne (RD973) and 20 minutes from Soissons (RN2).
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Guided tours on some Saturdays each month (calendar on the museum's website); an educational program is offered to schools. Animals are not admitted, even in a bag, except assistance dogs. |
