Musée Rude

About the museum

The Musée Rude was founded by the City of Dijon in 1947 as an annexe of the Musée des Beaux-Arts. It occupies the transept and choir of the former church of Saint-Étienne, a building whose history goes back to antiquity and which was an important urban abbey in the Middle Ages.

The church was deconsecrated in 1792 and converted into a grain hall, then bought by the City in 1809 and listed as a historic monument in 1862. It then served as a post office, a commodities exchange and a theatre-scenery store before housing the museum. Since 2009, the nave has housed the municipal library.

The museum displays plaster casts of major works by François Rude (1784–1855), a Romantic sculptor born in Dijon. Most were made for the City between 1887 and 1910; in 1947 the State sent the cast of “Le Départ des volontaires de 1792”, known as La Marseillaise. The choir also preserves remains of the 11th-century crypt and of the former Saint-Étienne gate of the castrum.

Highlights

• Plaster cast of “Le Départ des volontaires de 1792”, known as La Marseillaise
• Casts of François Rude's works, including Mercury and Joan of Arc listening to her voices
• Remains of the 11th-century crypt and of the Saint-Étienne gate of the castrum
• Former church of Saint-Étienne, historic monument
• Free admission

Permanent exhibition

• Moulages de François Rude – Plaster casts of major sculptures by François Rude, including La Marseillaise, as well as archaeological remains of the church and the castrum.

Founded

1947

Operated by

Ville de Dijon

Visitors per year

approx. 133,498 (2025)

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Access to the permanent collections of Dijon's museums has been free since 2004. Only the temporary exhibitions of the Musée des Beaux-Arts, workshops and guided tours are paid.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: not available
• 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

The museum is fully accessible to visitors with reduced mobility. There are no toilets in the museum. Assistance animals for people with disabilities are admitted on presentation of proof.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Café: not available
• Restaurant: not available
• Coat check: not available
• Lockers: not available

No cloakroom or lockers in this museum. Food and drink may not be brought in. The Musée des Beaux-Arts has a brasserie, but the Musée Rude does not.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit