Musée Renoir

About the museum

Suffering from polyarthritis, Pierre-Auguste Renoir sought a warmer climate and discovered Cagnes-sur-Mer in the early 20th century, thanks to his friend the painter Ferdinand Deconchy. In 1907 he bought, together with his wife Aline Charigot, the Les Collettes estate, a large plot planted with olive trees, with a farm. In 1908 the architect Jules Febvre built a neo-Provençal house that was modern for its time, with running water, electricity and heating, as well as two studios; a third was added in the garden.

The family spent the winters at Les Collettes. Renoir painted landscapes, nudes and portraits there, and with the sculptor Richard Guino he created sculptures inspired by his paintings and by mythology. After his death in 1919, his children looked after the estate. In 1960 the City of Cagnes-sur-Mer bought the property from Claude Renoir, the painter's youngest son, and opened it as a museum.

The museum was renovated in the early 2010s. The garden level, now open to visitors, displays the sculptures of Renoir and Guino. The original furniture, the painter's easel and wheelchair, photographs, letters, ceramics and about a dozen original paintings can also be seen. The Mediterranean garden has olive trees several centuries old, as well as orange and fig trees.

Highlights

• House and studios where Renoir lived and worked from 1907 to 1919
• About a dozen original paintings, including a landscape of the Cagne valley
• Sculptures made with Richard Guino
• The painter's easel, wheelchair and original furniture
• Garden of centuries-old olive trees, orange trees and fig trees

Permanent exhibitions

• La maison et les ateliers de Renoir – Visit to the neo-Provençal house and the studio in the garden, with the original furniture, the painter's easel and wheelchair, photographs and about a dozen original paintings.
• Sculptures de Renoir et Richard Guino – Sculptures created by Renoir with Richard Guino, displayed on the garden level of the house.
• Le jardin des Collettes – Mediterranean garden with olive trees several centuries old, orange trees and fig trees.

Founded

1960

Operated by

Ville de Cagnes-sur-Mer

Admission & discounts

Free admission for under-26s and for residents of Cagnes-sur-Mer. Accepted passes: Pass Côte d’Azur France, French Riviera Pass and Pass Culture. Payment by cash, bank card or a bank cheque payable in France.

Accessibility

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

For people with reduced mobility, a vehicle takes visitors around the estate between the reception and the museum. A lift serves the museum's floors, and walking aids with a seat are lent. Guide dogs for blind people are admitted.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide

Activity booklets for children from age 6, available at reception, and playful trails for children in the Guidigo app. The programme includes family tours (“Sur les pas de Renoir aux Collettes”) and sessions for babies.

Getting there & parking

By car: A8 motorway, exit 47 or 48 Cagnes-sur-Mer, then towards the town centre. The museum is on the Les Collettes hill.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop
• Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi at reception, in particular for downloading the audioguide app. The shop opens at the same times as the museum.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit