Musée de l'École de Nancy

About the museum

The museum takes its name from the École de Nancy association, founded in 1901, and is one of the few French museums devoted to a single artistic movement. The first works by Gallé, Prouvé, Hestaux and Martin were bought as early as 1894 by the Société des Arts Décoratifs Lorrains. A decorative arts museum was set up in 1900 within the Musée des Beaux-Arts, and in 1904 it was enriched with 39 glass pieces selected by Émile Gallé.

In 1935, the patron Eugène Corbin gave 759 works by the movement's leading artists to the City of Nancy. After the war and the damage caused by the 1947 flood, the city bought the Corbin property in the rue du Sergent-Blandan in 1951–1952. The museum opened there in May 1954, one day a week; it was enlarged and reopened in 1964 in the presence of descendants of the artists. It bears the designation “Musée de France”.

Inside the house, furniture, decorative objects, glass, ceramics, stained glass, paintings and textiles show the range of techniques of the École de Nancy, from unique pieces to mass-produced objects. The museum holds more than 400 glass works by Gallé and the dining room designed by Eugène Vallin for the Masson couple. The garden contains an Art Nouveau funerary monument and a circular pavilion with aquariums, built around 1904, with stained-glass windows by Jacques Gruber.

Highlights

• More than 400 glass works by Émile Gallé
• Masson dining room by Eugène Vallin
• Eugène Corbin donation of 1935
• Aquarium pavilion with stained-glass windows by Jacques Gruber in the garden
• Works by Guimard, Chaplet and Carabin

Permanent exhibition

• Collections permanentes de l'École de Nancy – Furniture, glass, ceramics, stained glass and paintings by Gallé, Majorelle, Vallin, Daum and other artists of the École de Nancy, displayed in a Belle Époque house.

Founded

1964

Operated by

Ville de Nancy

Visitors per year

approx. 67,950

Admission & discounts

Free admission: The first Sunday of every month

Also free for recipients of the RSA (French minimum income support) or the ASPA (French minimum old-age pension), members of the Friends of Nancy's museums, holders of the Nancy City Pass, the Carte Museo, the Muséum pass, ICOM cards, press cards and Grand Est museum cards, and for certain guides and teachers. The Nancy City Pass (24, 48 or 72 hours) is sold at reception and on the tourist office website.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: not available
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description

The house has two floors without an elevator and several changes of level: only the first four rooms on the ground floor and the upper part of the garden are accessible to people with reduced mobility. The visit apps offer tours in French Sign Language and with audio description; adapted visits can be arranged for visually impaired visitors.

Kids & families

• Stroller-friendly: not available

Strollers are not allowed during the visit; baby carriers are allowed if the baby is worn in front. The museum offers programmes for schools and leisure centres.

Getting there & parking

For the Villa Majorelle: line 3 (Sacré-Cœur stop) or line 10 (Commanderie stop); parking at the Charlemagne car park.

Amenities & dining

• Coat check
• Lockers

Self-service cloakrooms; bags larger than hand luggage and strollers are not accepted for the visit.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Up to 200 guests.

Receptions in the garden outside opening hours for 50 to 200 people; private visits of the museum and garden for groups of 25 to 75 people.

Plan your visit