Musée des Beaux-Arts de Dijon

About the museum

The Musée des Beaux-Arts de Dijon occupies part of the Palace of the Dukes and States of Burgundy, a complex of buildings constructed between the 14th and 19th centuries. The dukes of Burgundy renovated and enlarged the palace from 1363 onwards. The great hall, first the Hall of Feasts, then the Hall of Guards and then the Hall of Tombs, has housed the cenotaphs brought from the Chartreuse de Champmol since the early 19th century.

The collections trace their origins to the drawing school founded in 1766 by the sculptor François Devosge. The States of Burgundy sent students to Rome, who in return sent drawings and copies. These consignments form the museum’s first holdings. An east wing built from 1781 still houses two historic rooms of the school, the Salon Condé and the Hall of Statues.

The museum officially opened to the public in 1799. It was enriched by revolutionary seizures, then by the deposit in Dijon of 72 paintings from the Muséum central des arts, the forerunner of the Louvre, between 1804 and 1812. In the 19th century, numerous gifts, bequests and acquisitions expanded the holdings. Contemporary art entered the collections with the donations of Pierre and Kathleen Granville from 1969, and later with works by Yan Pei-Ming, Fabienne Verdier and Claude Garache. The museum now holds more than 140,000 works and almost 5,000 m² of exhibition space.

Highlights

• Hall of Tombs with the cenotaphs of the dukes of Burgundy
• Chronological route in eight sequences, from antiquity to the 21st century
• Salon Condé and Hall of Statues of the former drawing school
• Granville donation and contemporary art, including Yan Pei-Ming
• Tactile space “L’art et la matière” devoted to sculpture

Permanent exhibition

• Collections permanentes – Eight chronological sequences present paintings, sculptures and art objects from antiquity to the 21st century, including the Hall of Tombs of the dukes of Burgundy.

Founded

1799

Operated by

Ville de Dijon

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Access to the permanent collections of Dijon’s museums has been free since 2004. Only the temporary exhibitions of the Musée des Beaux-Arts are charged (full price €9); the ticket also gives access to the permanent collections.

Accessibility

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

The museum is fully accessible to visitors with reduced mobility and has several lifts. Wheelchairs are lent at reception. The free Nomade app offers content for visitors with visual, hearing and intellectual disabilities. A tactile area is in room 35, and “Les yeux fermés” tours with audio description are regularly offered.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly

“En famille” route in the Nomade app and family activities. Umbrella strollers are lent free of charge at reception; pushchairs must be able to fit in the lifts and cannot be left at the cloakroom.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Lockers

Brasserie open during museum hours, a shop, rest areas and a cloakroom with token-operated lockers.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Hire of spaces in the museums of Dijon; prices on request.

Plan your visit