Musée municipal Ducastel-Vera
Municipal museum of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, whose Espace Paul-et-André-Vera presents the work of the Vera brothers; the Apothicairerie royale (royal apothecary's shop) can be visited by reservation.
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About the museum
The municipal museum was founded in 1848 on the initiative of Louis-Alexandre Ducastel, thanks to its first curator, the watercolourist Eugène Bunout, who encouraged the residents of Saint-Germain-en-Laye to give works to the town. In 1872 it took on a new dimension when it received Ducastel's entire personal collection as a bequest. Its holdings then continued to grow through gifts from enthusiasts and local artists, among them the sculptor Honoré Icard and the painters François Bonvin, Édouard Detaille, Maurice Denis and, above all, Paul Vera.
In 1968 André Vera, an urban planner and garden theorist, gave an important group of works by his brother as well as his entire studio collection, which deeply shaped the museum's identity. The museum received the Musée de France label in 2002 and since 2021 has borne the name Ducastel-Vera, in honour of its main donors. It holds nearly 9,000 works and objects, from Egyptian antiquity to the first half of the 20th century, including a large graphic collection and one of the best-preserved apothecaries in France.
The museum is visited in three places: the Espace Paul-et-André-Vera in the Jardin des Arts, the Maison natale Claude-Debussy and the Apothicairerie royale. In the Espace Vera, Paul's works (paintings, drawings, ceramics, tapestries) sit alongside the garden plans drawn up with his brother André, and the dining room of their La Thébaïde estate has been faithfully reconstructed.
Highlights
- Works by Paul Vera: paintings, drawings, ceramics and tapestries
- Garden plans by André Vera and the reconstructed dining room of La Thébaïde
- Apothicairerie royale, a listed historic monument, visited by reservation only
- Nearly 9,000 works and objects, from Egyptian antiquity to the 20th century
- Thematic exhibitions in two large rooms
Permanent exhibitions
- Collections permanentes Paul et André Vera – The space illustrates the Vera brothers' collaboration with the Compagnie des arts français, with a reconstruction of their dining room, tapestries, ceramics and garden projects.
- Apothicairerie royale – The apothecary, a listed historic monument and one of the best-preserved in France, can only be visited by reservation.
- Founded
- 1848
- Operated by
- Ville de Saint-Germain-en-Laye
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 11 · Free for children under 12 on paid offers (combined ticket, thematic tours). |
|---|---|
| Combined ticket (Maison natale Claude-Debussy and temporary exhibitions) | €6Reduced rate of €4 (ages 12–25, job seekers, large families, people with disabilities and their companion, Pass Culture, among others). |
| Thematic tour or workshop | €10Reduced rate of €8; workshops for young audiences are free. |
| Annual museum pass | €25Named pass, valid for one year; gives access to all sites and to the temporary exhibitions. |
Free admission: On the first Sunday of each month for the combined ticket, and during the European Heritage Days, the National Architecture Days and Museum Night.
Admission to the permanent collections of the Espace Paul-et-André-Vera is free; the two current exhibitions (“Florilège” and “Été, combien je vous adore”) are free. The guided tour of the collections is free with the entry ticket on the first Saturday of the month; the visit to the Apothicairerie royale is free on the second Saturday of the month, by reservation. Cheques are no longer accepted.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- 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 Espace Paul-et-André-Vera is fully accessible to visitors with reduced mobility, and parking is possible in the immediate vicinity if you call the museum. Seats are available at reception, and walking-stick seats can be lent in the Espace Vera. The museum is a partner of the Souffleurs d'images service for visually impaired and blind visitors. At the Maison natale Claude-Debussy there is a platform and a lift for visitors with reduced mobility, and some doors are narrow; the Elioz service is available for deaf and hard-of-hearing visitors.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 11 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
Free workshops for young audiences, and activities for school groups from nursery to sixth form and for leisure centres.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Saint-Germain-en-Laye
RER A, terminus Saint-Germain-en-Laye; the Saint-Germain-en-Laye coach station.
By car
Parking available
Public car parks at the Château and at Les Coches.
By car: A14, A13, N13 or N184 towards the centre of Saint-Germain-en-Laye.
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 · approx. 30 min |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Commented tour of the collections on the first Saturday of the month. Visit to the Apothicairerie royale (about 30 minutes), free, by reservation on the second Saturday of the month. Tours for groups of up to 30 people on request; school groups are welcome Monday to Friday, mostly in the mornings. |
