Maison des champs Pierre-Corneille
Country house of Pierre Corneille’s family in Petit-Couronne, with its rooms, a kitchen garden and a tribute to the playwright.
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About the museum
The Maison des champs is a country house in Petit-Couronne, near Rouen, that belonged to the Corneille family. The playwright’s father, a master of waters and forests (Maître des Eaux et Forêts), bought it on June 7, 1608. The deed describes a modest house with outbuildings and about one acre of land; 19 further plots brought the total to roughly 20 hectares.
Pierre Corneille inherited the property in 1639 and lived there. In 1662 he moved to Paris, and the house was rented to a farmer. His son sold it in 1686; it then passed to the Franqueville family and was sold as national property in 1794. The link with Corneille was rediscovered in 1836 by a member of the Académie de Rouen and the departmental archivist.
The Département acquired the property in 1874 to create a museum dedicated to Corneille. Since January 1, 2016, it has been managed by the Métropole Rouen Normandie. The visit covers the rooms of the house, a tribute to Corneille and a garden with a kitchen garden, orchard, bread oven and well.
Highlights
- Country house of the 17th-century Corneille family
- Rooms of the house devoted to the playwright’s life
- Tribute to Pierre Corneille, author of “Le Cid,” “Horace” and “Cinna”
- Garden with kitchen garden and orchard
- Free admission to the permanent collections
Permanent exhibitions
- Les salles de la maison – A tour through the rooms of the Corneille family’s country house.
- Hommage à Corneille – A section devoted to the life and work of Pierre Corneille.
- Le jardin – The house garden, with kitchen garden, orchard, bread oven and well.
- Operated by
- Métropole Rouen Normandie
- Visitors per year
- approx. 6,110
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
| Groups | –Groups book via an online form, two weeks in advance. |
|---|
Free admission to the permanent collections. No booking is needed for individual visits, but entry is subject to capacity limits.
Accessibility
- Partially 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 ground floor of the museum is accessible. The garden is accessible to visitors with reduced mobility with assistance.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
The “Family and young audiences” section offers, among other things, the activity “A Sunday in the Family” as well as workshops; details are not specified on the pages consulted.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Porte des Tourelles
Astuce network, lines F6 and 27 from Rouen, stop “Porte des Tourelles.”
By car
Parking available
Parking is available near the museum.
By car from Rouen: Périphérique Sud III, exit Petit-Couronne. From Paris: A13 towards Les Essarts (via the A139), exit Petit-Couronne. From Caen or Le Havre: A13, exit Les Essarts-Elbeuf.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
Postcards and books are on sale at the front desk.
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, workshops and events are offered. Booking is required for adult groups and school groups, via an online form two weeks in advance. |
