Musée d'Art et d'Histoire de Dreux
Municipal museum housed in a former neo-Romanesque chapel, with archaeology, fine arts and a study by Claude Monet. Free admission.
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About the museum
The museum is housed in a neo-Romanesque chapel built in 1895 for the former Saint-Pierre boarding school. It was used for worship until 1905, and the town of Dreux bought it back in 1908. After the former religious building was converted, the museum opened in 1950 under the patronage of mayor Maurice Viollette. Its founder, Marcel Dessal, served as its curator until his death, and the institution has borne his name since 1977.
The collections, comprising around 33,500 objects, cover archaeology, decorative arts, fine arts and history. Part of them comes from the former collegiate church of Saint-Étienne in Dreux. They are also linked to the Chapelle royale, the burial place of the Orléans family, and to the Château de Dreux.
The museum holds, among other works, a study of wisteria by Claude Monet linked to the Water Lilies (Nymphéas) cycle; 19th-century works by Marius Granet, Henri Le Sidaner, Horace Vernet, James Pradier, Henri Gervex and Maurice de Vlaminck; and medieval religious art, including stained-glass windows and 12th-century capitals. Prehistoric tools, Merovingian objects and jewellery from local excavations complete the route.
Highlights
- Wisteria study by Claude Monet, linked to the Water Lilies cycle
- First marble recumbent effigy of the Duchess of Alençon by Barrias
- 19th-century paintings and sculptures (Granet, Vernet, Pradier, Vlaminck)
- Stained-glass windows and 12th-century capitals
- Prehistoric and Merovingian objects from local excavations
- Founded
- 1950
- Operated by
- Ville de Dreux
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Free admission.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
Educational programmes for the 2026-2027 school year are available to download from the website; free “Dreux à la Renaissance” app.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & 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 |
|---|---|
| Good to know | 15-minute flash tours led by a student from the École du Louvre, on certain Sundays between 15:00 and 17:00; free and without booking. “Musée philo” debates and “Samedis du patrimoine” on certain Saturdays, free and by reservation. Free “Dreux à la Renaissance” app for smartphones. |
