Musée Courbet
Museum devoted to Gustave Courbet in Ornans, set up in the Hôtel Hébert, with the largest public collection of the painter's works.
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About the museum
The museum is in Ornans, Gustave Courbet's birthplace, in the Hôtel Hébert, where the painter's family lived after the family farm at Flagey burned down in 1827. A friends' association of Courbet was founded in 1939 to buy the house and turn it into a museum; the war interrupted the project. A first display space opened in 1947 in the Ornans town hall.
In 1971 the association acquired the Hôtel Hébert with the help of the Doubs departmental council, and the museum opened on September 10, 1971. Robert Fernier was its first curator, followed by his son Jean-Jacques Fernier. In 1976 the building and the collections passed to the Doubs departmental council.
The department subsequently bought neighbouring houses, which made possible a major extension and renovation between 2008 and 2011. The museum reopened in July 2011 with around 1,000 m² of exhibition space. The permanent display was redesigned between 2020 and 2021.
The museum holds the largest public collection of works by Gustave Courbet. It carries the “Musée de France” label.
Highlights
- Around 400 works, including some sixty by Gustave Courbet
- “Le Pont de Nahin” (c. 1837) and “Le Château de Chillon” (1874)
- Genre paintings, portraits, animal scenes and landscapes
- Works by friends, a pupil and contemporaries of Courbet
- Digital visit companion in French, English and German
Permanent exhibition
- Parcours permanent Courbet – The circuit brings together around 400 works, including some sixty by Gustave Courbet: genre scenes, portraits, animals and landscapes, as well as sculptures and graphic works. It also shows works by the artist's friends and pupils.
- Founded
- 1971
- Operated by
- Département du Doubs
- Visitors per year
- approx. 83,865
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €6 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €4People over 65, large families, employees of the Doubs departmental council, active teachers, groups of more than 10 people and holders of certain partner cards (proof required) |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Free admission for under-18s, on proof of age. |
| Seniors | €4Reduced rate from age 65. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · Free admission for the disabled visitor and one companion. |
| Students & apprentices | freeFree admission for students under 26, as well as for students of fine arts and art history. |
| Groups (10+ people) | €4 per personPer-person rate for groups of at least 10 adults, admission only; €8 with a guided tour. One accompanying person per group enters free. |
| Guided tour (supplement to the admission ticket) | €4 |
| Annual pass | €15Per person. |
Free admission: First Sunday of every month, European Heritage Days and Museum Night.
The full rate rises to €8 during the summer exhibition. Also free, on proof, for job seekers and RSA recipients (French minimum income), as well as for Pass Culture holders after booking. A full-price ticket entitles the holder to a reduced rate at the Saline royale in Arc-et-Senans, the Citadelle in Besançon and the Maisons comtoises museum in Nancray. Payment by cash, cheque, bank card or chèques-vacances.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours
- Easy-to-read materials
- Audio description
The permanent display, the temporary exhibition and the shop are accessible by lift, with help from a member of staff. Two wheelchairs for adults, one child's wheelchair, folding seats and magnifying glasses are lent free of charge. Rooms 1 and 2 are not accessible to wheelchairs more than 70 cm wide. Induction loop at reception and in the bookshop. Three reserved spaces in the car park of the Maison des Services, about 50 m away. An easy-read guide is available. Tours in French Sign Language require at least eight people and booking one month in advance.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 17 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
- Stroller-friendly
Free puzzle booklets for 6- to 12-year-olds and teenagers, colouring sheets, a family game in the galleries lasting about one hour (by booking), and free workshops for children from age 6 on the Wednesdays of school holidays. Four pushchairs are lent free of charge at reception.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Mobigo LR 204 bus line between Besançon or Pontarlier and Ornans. Nearest stations: Besançon Franche-Comté TGV, Besançon-Viotte, Pontarlier, Hôpital-du-Grosbois, Arc-et-Senans and Liesle, then a connection by bus, taxi or car share.
By car
Parking available
Maison des Services car park (64 spaces, blue zone limited to 2 hours, access via rue Saint-Laurent, lift to level -1); Église car park, 2 rue du Champliman (50 spaces, free, no time limit); La Plante car park (200 spaces, free, no time limit).
- Accessible parking
The museum recommends car sharing. Journey times given: Paris 4 hrs, Lyon 2 hrs 10 min, Geneva 2 hrs 20 min, Zurich 3 hrs.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café: not available
- Restaurant: not available
- Museum shop
- Coat check
Cloakroom for coats and umbrellas. Bookshop on site. The Juliette café-bookshop is at the Ferme Courbet in Flagey. The digital visit companion can be used on a smartphone via the museum's Wi-Fi or on a tablet lent at reception.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes (FR, EN, DE) |
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | A digital visit companion offers texts in French, English and German, videos in French Sign Language and audio descriptions. Guided tour with a €4 supplement. House rules are available on the museum's website. |
