Musée des Beaux-Arts et d'Histoire Naturelle de Châteaudun
Municipal museum of Châteaudun: Egyptian art, Asian art, the war of 1870 and a gallery of taxidermied birds and mammals from the Tarragon collection.
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About the museum
The museum was founded in 1864 by the Société dunoise d’archéologie, on the initiative of the printer and lithographer Roch-Henri-Auguste Lecesne, to preserve archaeological objects from the Dunois. Since 1890 it has occupied a former school building of nine rooms on rue Toufaire.
The municipal collections include an archaeological collection from prehistory to the Middle Ages, fine arts, Asian art and natural history. The private collection of the Marquis Léonce de Tarragon, bequeathed to the town in 1897, forms the bird gallery, which displays around 3,000 taxidermied birds and mammals from the five continents. A diorama room is devoted to the animals of the local area.
On the first floor, the Egyptian art room holds much of the collection of Émile Amélineau, who led excavations at Abydos and gave some of his objects to the museum in 1905. One room commemorates the resistance of the people of the Dunois to the Prussians during the war of 1870, and two rooms present Oriental and Asian art, including Japanese katagami.
Highlights
- Egyptian art room with the Émile Amélineau collection
- Bird gallery of the Marquis de Tarragon, around 3,000 taxidermied animals
- Diorama room on the wildlife of the area
- Room devoted to the resistance of the Dunois in 1870
- Two rooms of Oriental and Asian art, including Japanese katagami
- Founded
- 1864
- Operated by
- Ville de Châteaudun
- Visitors per year
- approx. 8,651 (2018)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €6 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €4Students over 18, holders of the Pass Pays Dunois, holders of the “carte mobilité inclusion invalidité” |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Free for under-18s |
| Visitors with disabilities | €4Holders of the “carte mobilité inclusion invalidité” |
| Students & apprentices | €4Students over 18 |
| Groups | €5.50 per personAdult groups; school groups: €2.50 per pupil |
| School groups (per pupil) | €2.50 |
Free admission: First Sunday of the month, from November to March inclusive
Also free for job seekers and holders of the ICOM card. Free first Sunday gives access to the permanent collections and the current temporary exhibition.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 17 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
Creative workshops for children during school holidays, by registration.
Getting there & parking
By car
Parking available
The tourist office listing mentions a car park among the museum’s facilities, without specifying its location.
Get directionsAmenities & 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
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Guided tours for adults, nature outings and educational activities for schools and leisure centres are offered year-round. Guided tours can be booked by telephone at +33 2 37 45 55 36. |
