Musée des Beaux-Arts de Pau

About the museum

The museum was founded in 1864 by the architect Charles Clément Le Cœur, municipal councillor and founder of the Société des Amis des Arts, to show works bought at the annual salons. It was first housed in part of the Parlement de Navarre; in 1881 it moved to a larger building, the former asylum. The collections grew through works by local painters, a bequest from Eugène Devéria and transfers from the State.

After the death of the collector Louis La Caze, the museum received a deposit of thirty works in 1872, including paintings by Ribera, Largillière and Zurbarán. From 1878 the bequest of the lawyer Émile Noulibos financed purchases of modern painting, including a Degas, making the 19th century the strength of the collection.

The present Art Deco museum, designed by the architect Jacques Ruillier, opened in 1931; it was built to display Devéria’s large canvas, La Naissance d'Henri IV. Closed in 1942 because of water leaks, it reopened in 1953. Later purchases and State deposits brought works by El Greco, Corot, Berthe Morisot and Jacques Monory.

In 2019 the Espace des Arts linked the museum to the École supérieure d'art et de design des Pyrénées by a glass footbridge, with an auditorium, a documentation centre and studios.

Highlights

• Flemish and Dutch, Italian and Spanish painting (El Greco, Ribera, Rubens)
• French painting of the 19th century (Corot, Degas, Morisot, Boudin)
• Large canvas by Devéria, La Naissance d'Henri IV, in the central hall
• Art of the 20th and 21st centuries
• Sculpture garden and free admission

Permanent exhibitions

• Collections permanentes de peinture européenne – Flemish, Dutch, Italian, Spanish and French paintings from the 16th to the 19th century, including works by El Greco, Rubens, Ribera and Degas.
• Arts des XXe et XXIe siècles – Modern and contemporary works from purchases and State deposits, as well as a sculpture garden.

Founded

1864

Operated by

Ville de Pau

Visitors per year

approx. 39,836

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission to the permanent collections and exhibitions is free.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking
• 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 building, the collections and the exhibitions are accessible to visitors with reduced mobility; all floors are served by lift. Reserved parking spaces are on rue Mathieu-Lalanne.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

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

Workshops with craft activities for ages 6 to 12 (pastel, collage, sculpture, painting), a detective game in the museum from age 10, a treasure hunt from age 7, the board game “Le jeu de l'oie” for the whole family from age 4 and storytime from age 4. Free activity booklets are available at reception. Book by phone or email.

Getting there & parking

Reserved parking spaces for people with disabilities on rue Mathieu-Lalanne.

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