Musée Jean-Racine
Municipal museum in Jean Racine’s childhood home in La Ferté-Milon, with David d’Angers’s statue and documents on the playwright.
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About the museum
The museum is housed in the home of Jean Racine’s paternal grandparents, where the future playwright grew up after being orphaned at the age of three. He lived there until 1651, when he left for Port-Royal with his grandmother. A vaulted cellar from the original house survives in the basement.
The museum’s foundation stone was laid in February 1989, and it opened in September 1991 with a contemporary presentation. The town entrusted the management of the collections and cultural programming to the association Jean Racine et son terroir, founded in 1983. The museum received the Maison des Illustres label in 2013 and is part of the network of writers’ houses and literary heritage sites in the Hauts-de-France region.
On entering, visitors see the marble statue of Racine by David d’Angers, made in 1828 and given to the town by Louis XVIII. The collections include documents and portraits of the poet’s family, his baptism certificate, a letter to his sister, busts, first editions, and literary, philatelic and musical documents. One area also presents the heritage of La Ferté-Milon, with works from the town’s churches, old maps and paintings inspired by the landscapes of the Ourcq valley.
Highlights
- Marble statue of Racine by David d’Angers (1828)
- Baptism certificate of Jean Racine (1639)
- Vaulted cellar of the childhood home
- First editions and portraits of the Racine family
- Flemish altarpiece by De Vos and the town’s heritage
- Founded
- 1991
- Operated by
- Ville de La Ferté-Milon (gestion par l'association Jean Racine et son terroir)
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Free admission for individual visits.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
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Getting there & parking
The museum is at the bottom of the medieval old town, at the junction of Rue de Reims and Rue des Bouchers, below the church of Notre-Dame. Phone number (weekdays): +33 3 23 96 70 45.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
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Events & venue rental
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Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Groups can book a visit all year round by writing to the association Jean Racine et son terroir (jeanracineetsonterroir@gmail.com) or by contacting the Retz-en-Valois tourist office. The association also offers thematic and educational tours for school classes, with or without a guide. |
