Musée des Beaux-Arts et d'Archéologie de Châlons-en-Champagne

About the museum

The museum was founded in 1794 as the départemental museum (muséum départemental). It is one of the oldest in France and the first in the Marne department. Its first holdings came from confiscations during the Revolution, including paintings from the collection of Jacques Cazotte. Its real growth came in 1861, when Charles Picot bequeathed 275 paintings and art objects to his native town, a gift followed by many other bequests in the 19th and 20th centuries that gave the museum its encyclopaedic character.

The painting gallery, built by the architect Alexis Vagny between 1877 and 1881, presents European painting from the 15th to the 19th century. In 1885 Dr Dorin gave around 2,800 stuffed birds, to which his pupil Eugène Thierry added further pieces in 1909; this ornithology cabinet has largely remained in its original state.

The museum also has a room devoted to paintings by Georges Mielle, a room of medieval and Renaissance sculpture, and a room of First World War archaeology with remains from the German camp at Borrieswalde (1914–1918). Its collections comprise around 150,000 objects, much of which is kept in storage.

Highlights

• Gallery of European painting from the 15th to the 19th century
• Dr Dorin's ornithology cabinet, with around 2,800 birds
• Room of medieval and Renaissance sculpture
• Mielle room, devoted to the painter Georges Mielle
• First World War archaeology room

Permanent exhibition

• Collections permanentes – European painting from the 15th to the 19th century, medieval sculpture, an ornithology cabinet and archaeology, in an encyclopaedic museum.

Founded

1794

Operated by

Ville de Châlons-en-Champagne

Admission & discounts

Free admission: First Sunday of every month (free access to the city's three museums)

The prices shown are those of the Pass 3 musées (valid for 15 days for the Fine Arts and Archaeology museums, the Cloître de Notre-Dame-en-Vaux and Garinet). Free admission is possible under certain conditions.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• 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 city offers a service for hard-of-hearing visitors (acce-o).

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Kids’ birthday parties

The museum offers workshops during school holidays, discovery and hands-on art workshops, as well as birthday parties at the museum.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

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