Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille

About the museum

The Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille has more than two hundred years of history. The city had it built at the end of the 19th century and inaugurated it on 6 March 1892. To fund the building, it organised a lottery of five million tickets at one franc each, but the scheme raised only half the planned budget, and the architects Bérard and Delmas had to scale back their ambitions.

In 1873 the curator Edouard Reynart had Goya’s “Les Jeunes” acquired, then bought “Les Vieilles” from his own funds; these two paintings are now among the museum’s most famous works. During the First World War the German army requisitioned the museum, which nevertheless remained open to the public; more than seventy shells fell on the building.

The museum was fully renovated and extended in 1997, with a slab-shaped building at the rear. Since 2017, a major project to redesign the permanent display, more environmentally responsible, has been carried out step by step: atrium, the plans-reliefs of Lille, the medieval and Renaissance galleries, new lighting, the Impressionist gallery, the children’s museum and, in 2026, the Inspirations du lointain gallery.

Some rooms, among them the Écoles du Nord, France of the 17th and 18th centuries and the 19th century, will be unveiled in a redesigned route in early 2028.

Highlights

• “Les Jeunes” and “Les Vieilles” by Francisco Goya
• Plans-reliefs of Lille, restored and presented on level -1
• Impressionist gallery and the Symbolisme, rêve et mystère gallery
• Atrium with café, shop, gigapixel images and 3D model of the plan-relief
• Children’s museum, free and open to all

Permanent exhibitions

• Plans-reliefs de Lille – Historical models of fortified towns, restored and presented on level -1, with a 3D model of the plan-relief of Lille.
• Galerie impressionniste – New hang of Impressionist paintings on the second floor since August 2025.
• Inspirations du lointain – Thematic gallery, opened in June 2026, on the influence of distant cultures on the collections.

Founded

1809

Operated by

Ville de Lille

Visitors per year

approx. 297,610

Admission & discounts

Free admission: First Sunday of the month, European Heritage Days, Museum Night, International Women’s Day; every Sunday for residents of Lille, Hellemmes and Lomme

Prices apply to the permanent collections. The ground floor, including the children’s museum, is free for everyone. Free admission also for job seekers, recipients of minimum social benefits, friends of the Lille museums and holders of the Pass PBA or the C’Art card. The Pass Culture is accepted; a discount is available on presentation of the day’s TER Hauts-de-France ticket. The museum offers a Pass PBA+ and the La C’Art card, for unlimited access to 14 museums.

Accessibility

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

All levels are accessible by lift; access for visitors with reduced mobility is via the external lift on boulevard de la Liberté, where reserved parking spaces are located. Tours in French Sign Language, audio-described tours and sensory tours are offered regularly; a 10-work route in sign language is accessible via QR code. Wheelchairs, walking sticks with seats, magnifiers, noise-reducing headphones and stress balls are lent. Tactile models, a tactile picture and a gigapixel area. Easy-read booklet for temporary exhibitions.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly
• Baby changing facilities

The Grandeur nature children’s museum, free and open access on the ground floor, is for children aged 6 to 10 and offers polysensory mediation; flash visits and family tours are organised there. Baby carriers are lent at reception, changing tables are in the toilets, and there is a rest area in the atrium. Pushchairs are admitted only in the permanent collections.

Getting there & parking

Lesquin airport is 20 minutes by car. Accessible parking spaces are located around the museum on boulevard de la Liberté.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Lockers
• Wi-Fi

Le Beau Café in the atrium (free access) serves drinks, pastries and light meals. The bookshop, also in the atrium and open access, sells art books, postcards and gifts. Wi-Fi is available in the atrium. Lockers are on the mezzanine; large bags, suitcases and large umbrellas are not allowed. Entry is through a security gate.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Several spaces can be hired for private events, depending on the nature of the event and the number of guests.

Plan your visit