Musée Despiau-Wlérick
Municipal museum of 20th-century figurative sculpture, devoted to Despiau and Wlérick; the permanent galleries are closed for building work until 2027.
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About the museum
The museum was founded in 1886 thanks to gifts from Pierre-Eudoxe Dubalen, an archaeologist and historian of the region. Its first collections were in natural history and archaeology; fine arts only entered at the beginning of the 20th century.
From the 1960s, the institution gradually specialised in figurative sculpture of the interwar period. Its name honours two sculptors born in Mont-de-Marsan, Charles Despiau and Robert Wlérick, whose friends wanted to create a place devoted to their work.
Since 1968 it has occupied a group of 14th-century medieval buildings, at the foot of the Lacataye keep, listed as a historic monument since 1942. The fitting-out was completed in 1982 with a reception area, a temporary exhibition gallery and an open-air sculpture garden. The museum has held the “Musée de France” label since 2002.
The collections comprise more than 2,400 sculptures, more than 11,000 drawings and more than 500 paintings, with works by Auguste Rodin, François Pompon or Chana Orloff. A major renovation and extension project is under way: the permanent galleries are closed; a first phase of works is to allow reopening, announced for late 2027 or early 2028, and a second phase will be completed in 2029.
Highlights
- More than 2,400 sculptures, mainly from the interwar period
- Works by Charles Despiau and Robert Wlérick
- Pieces by Rodin, Pompon and Chana Orloff
- More than 11,000 drawings and more than 500 paintings
- Open-air sculpture garden
Permanent exhibition
- Exposition du musée à la maison romane – During the works, part of the collections is shown in the Romanesque house, west of the keep, with a programme of activities until the renovated museum reopens.
- Founded
- 1886
- Operated by
- Ville de Mont-de-Marsan
- Director
- Mathilde Lecuyer-Maillé
Admission & discounts
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
The “Musée en famille” programme offers workshops during school holidays and on Saturdays. The drawing workshops “À vos crayons !” take place one Saturday a month. Registration is by form from the museum.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
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Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| School programs | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Groups are welcomed by reservation with the visitor services team (musee-edu@montdemarsan.fr, +33 5 58 75 00 45). Lectures take place throughout the year with the Société des Amis du musée, in the lecture room of the Musée Dubalen. |
