Musée des arts précieux Paul-Dupuy

About the museum

The museum is named after Paul Dupuy (1867–1935), a Toulouse native from a merchant family, a trained engineer, collector and bibliophile. To house his objects, he acquired the former Hôtel de Besson in 1909, a mansion from the early 16th century remodelled in the 17th century, and restored it by adding a floor and a tower inspired by the Renaissance architecture of Toulouse. The opening of rue Ozenne in 1908 had freed the building and opened up rue de la Pleau.

On his death in 1935, Paul Dupuy bequeathed his collections and the building to the State by will. The bequest was passed on to the City of Toulouse, which accepted it in 1948: the municipal museum opened in 1949 with Robert Mesuret as its first curator. In 1954, the thematic division of the municipal collections made it the museum of Decorative Arts and Graphic Arts. The purchase of the Rouzaud collection in 1985 enriched the holdings devoted to pre-cinema and cinema.

The display covers the period from the Middle Ages to 1939: medieval religious treasures, ivories, faience from Toulouse and the region, glassware, furniture, weapons, coins, drawings, prints, posters and an exceptional ensemble of horology. After more than three years of works, the museum reopened on November 16, 2022 under the name Musée des Arts précieux Paul-Dupuy, with a redesigned museography across three levels, digital terminals and a visitor app. The third floor remains reserved for temporary exhibitions.

Highlights

• The Cabinet de préciosité: faience, ivories, glassware and medieval religious treasures
• The Cabinet du Temps: clocks, watches and sundials from the Renaissance to the 20th century
• The Cabinet de projection devoted to pre-cinema (magic lanterns, zoetropes, praxinoscopes)
• The 14th-century altar frontal from the Cordeliers and the 17th-century Jesuit pharmacy
• A 16th-century mansion restored by Paul Dupuy

Permanent exhibitions

• Le Cabinet de préciosité – On the first floor and in the basement, the decorative arts are presented in four spaces, from the faience salon to the medieval religious treasures.
• Le Cabinet de projection – Two rooms in the basement show optical objects from pre-cinema and cinema, such as magic lanterns and antique projectors.
• Le Cabinet du Temps – On the second floor, clocks, watches, sundials and chronometers trace the measurement of time from the Renaissance to the 20th century.

Founded

1949

Operated by

Ville de Toulouse

Admission & discounts

Free admission: First Sunday of the month, for access to the permanent collections.

The €5 and €3 rates apply outside temporary exhibition periods. Free admission with the Toulouse Tourism Pass from the Toulouse tourist office, and 15% off in the museum shop for its holders. The Pass Toulouse + entitles holders to the reduced rate. Online tickets with no additional fee. Free admission for other visitors (journalists, curators, members of museum friends’ associations, etc.) on presentation of proof.

Accessibility

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

The basement is not accessible to visitors with reduced mobility; a virtual tour of the basement is offered at reception. The renovation improved accessibility: new reception desk, videos with sign language interpretation and a digital terminal at reception.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

The museum organises family weekends with shows, workshops, playful trails and tours. A full educational programme is offered to school classes.

Getting there & parking

Nearby VélÔ Toulouse bike stations: no. 45 (Carmes) and no. 46 (rue Ozenne).

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Museum shop and online shop.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit