Musée des Ursulines

About the museum

The museum is housed in the former Ursuline convent. The Ursulines arrived in Mâcon in 1615, at the invitation of Bishop Gaspard Dinet, to educate girls from the nobility and the bourgeoisie. They had their convent built on the Plateau de la Baille between 1675 and 1677. During the Revolution the building became a prison, then a barracks until 1929, and later a building for associations. After renovation work between 1963 and 1967 it was inaugurated as a museum in 1968. The chapel, facades, roofs, cloister and grand staircase are listed as historic monuments.

The museum, which holds the “Musée de France” label, houses, according to the city, around 30,000 works from Antiquity to the 20th century. The archaeology department traces the history of Mâcon and its region from prehistory to the Middle Ages, with material from the prehistoric site of Solutré; its displays were renovated in 2022. The fine arts section covers the 16th to the 20th century: genre scenes and northern landscapes of the 17th century, French portraits, Symbolist works of the 19th century and abstract art of the 20th century.

The first floor is devoted to local ethnography, with winemaking, the Saône and Mâcon artists. Since 2019, one space presents the literary and political work of Alphonse de Lamartine, born in Mâcon in 1790, and another the regional landscape painters of the 19th century.

Highlights

• 17th-century Ursuline convent with cloister and grand staircase
• Archaeology of Mâcon and objects from the prehistoric site of Solutré
• Paintings and sculptures from the 16th to the 20th century
• Space devoted to Alphonse de Lamartine
• Local ethnography: winemaking and life on the Saône

Founded

1968

Operated by

Ville de Mâcon

Visitors per year

approx. 23,862

Admission & discounts

Free admission: National events: Museum Night, Archaeology Days, European Heritage Days and others

Rates in effect since April 1, 2023: €7 full price and €4.50 reduced rate for the permanent collections. Guided tours, workshops and lectures have separate rates, from €4.50 to €27 depending on the format and audience.

Accessibility

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

A lift serves the floors. A reserved parking space has been set up in the cloister, with a route to the entrance, and accessible toilets are on the first floor. Seats are available along the route. For visually impaired visitors: tactile studs and anti-slip nosings on the stairs, large-print sheets and tactile models on request. For hearing-impaired visitors: induction loops at reception and in the shop, individual headsets for guided tours. Pictograms throughout the building. The museum has held the “Tourisme et Handicap” label since 2011.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

Playful family tours (from age 5, with an adult), creative family workshops, a workshop for 1- to 3-year-olds and the role-play game “L'énigme des Ursulines”. Booking required; prices from €4.50 to €9 depending on the activity.

Getting there & parking

The museum is in the heart of the town. Accueil Vélo label since 2019: 8 free bicycle spaces in the courtyard.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop
• Coat check

Bookshop. Luggage storage, toilets and a battery charging point on site.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit