Musée des Beaux-Arts de Blois

About the museum

The Musée des Beaux-Arts de Blois was founded in 1850. Since 1869 it has occupied the Louis XII wing of the royal château of Blois, a listed historic monument, where it bears the name Musée des Beaux-Arts de la ville de Blois. A corridor links the rooms, so visitors do not have to pass through the wing in a single line, which was new compared with the medieval layout. In 1922 the Renouard rooms opened to honour the draughtsman Paul Renouard; this collection comprises seven paintings and about 550 drawings and prints.

The collections bring together paintings, sculptures and decorative arts from the 16th to the 19th century, including many French and Flemish tapestries of the 16th and 17th centuries. They include works by Maarten de Vos, Corneille de Lyon, Lavinia Fontana, Jacques Stella, Pierre Mignard, François Boucher, Ingres, Chassériau, Fromentin and Gérôme. A portrait cabinet brings together 16th- and 17th-century paintings from the châteaux of Saint-Germain-Beaupré and Beauregard, including a Marie de Médicis after Rubens. There is also a series of fifty terracotta medallions by Jean-Baptiste Nini.

About 300 objects are on display. The museum belongs to the city of Blois and holds the Musée de France label. The museum visit is included in the admission to the royal château.

Highlights

• Louis XII wing of the royal château of Blois
• Paintings by Ingres, Boucher, Chassériau and Gérôme
• French and Flemish tapestries of the 16th and 17th centuries
• Portrait cabinet of the 16th and 17th centuries
• Fifty terracotta medallions by Jean-Baptiste Nini
• Renouard rooms: drawings and prints by Paul Renouard

Permanent exhibitions

• Collections du musée des Beaux-Arts – Paintings, sculptures and decorative arts from the 16th to the 19th century, with tapestries and portraits in the Louis XII wing.
• Salles Renouard – Collection devoted to the draughtsman Paul Renouard: seven paintings and about 550 drawings and prints.

Founded

1850

Operated by

Ville de Blois

Visitors per year

approx. 353,521 (2019)

Admission & discounts

The admission ticket to the royal château includes the Musée des Beaux-Arts and either a HistoPad or a brochure. Also free for holders of the Pass Blois Culture. For free tickets, the HistoPad costs €4. Payment by cash, card, cheque, chèques-vacances and chèques Culture Up.

Accessibility

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

The château has the Tourisme et Handicap label (mental and hearing disabilities). Accessible by wheelchair: the courtyard, the chapel, the ground floor of the François I wing, the outdoor areas and the shop. A virtual tour on the HistoPad (€4) shows the areas that are not accessible. For the museum: folding seats, a virtual tour, a large-print and raised-print booklet, magnifying glasses and an audio guide. Wheelchair loan at reception (ID requested). Easy-read booklet and tactile plans and models in the courtyard. Accessible toilets at the back right of the courtyard. Reserved parking spaces: two on place du Château and one on rue de la Voûte.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Stroller-friendly: not available

Family guided tour from age 6 (1 hour 15 minutes, every day at 14:30 during school holidays), family audio guide and a free booklet with a small gift for ages 9 to 12. Baby room and free bottle warmer. Strollers are parked under the gallery and are not admitted into the visit route or the royal apartments. Children under 13 must be accompanied.

Getting there & parking

GPS coordinates: 47.585343, 1.331537. Bicycle parking on rue de la Voûte and place du Château (Loire à Vélo and Accueil Vélo labels).

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Lockers

Shop at 3 rue de la Voûte, open during château hours. Luggage storage and lockers (a €1 or €0.50 coin needed); backpacks and bulky items must be left in the car or in storage. Bag checks at the entrance. Animals are not admitted, except assistance dogs.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit