Maison Elsa Triolet-Aragon

Over het museum

In 1951 Aragon gave Elsa Triolet this Villeneuve mill, whose site dates back to the 13th century. Traces of its milling use remain: the wheel housing, whose wheel has disappeared, sits at the heart of the large living room and still receives the falling water. The couple’s familiar objects and the works given by artist friends, such as Picasso, Léger, Taslitzky, Kijno or Fougeron, have stayed in place. In the six rooms of the apartment, everything has remained as it was on June 16, 1970.

The libraries hold more than 30,000 volumes, which the writer bequeathed to the French nation in 1976. Elsa Triolet rests in the park, between two beech trees that have since fallen, and Aragon joined her there in 1982. The park, of almost six hectares, mixes meadows, damp undergrowth and footbridges, and houses a sculpture garden of some thirty contemporary works, which grows every year. The Modern Dancing, a wooden-floored dance hall built between 1943 and 1946, is listed in the supplementary inventory of historic monuments (inventaire supplémentaire des monuments historiques).

Today the house is at once a place of memory, a research centre built around the couple’s library and a venue for contemporary artistic creation. Throughout the year it hosts exhibitions of painting, sculpture and photography, meetings and performances.

Hoogtepunten

• Apartment museum of the writing couple, visited with a guide
• Library of more than 30,000 volumes
• Park of nearly six hectares with the tomb of Elsa Triolet and Aragon
• Sculpture garden of some thirty works by contemporary artists, with a trail for children
• Modern Dancing, a 1940s wooden-floored dance hall
• Works by the couple’s artist friends in every room

Vaste collectie

• Appartement-musée d'Elsa Triolet et d'Aragon – The six rooms lived in by the couple, preserved in their 1970 state, with books, objects and works by artist friends; visited with a guide.
• Jardin de sculptures – Permanent collection of some thirty works by contemporary artists in the park, with a trail for children.
• Le Modern Dancing – Dance hall with wooden floor and stained glass, built between 1943 and 1946, listed in the supplementary inventory of historic monuments.

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

The prices of €13 (full rate) and €10 (reduced rate) cover the guided tour of the house and free access to the park and exhibitions. Free entry also for the press, members, holders of the ICOM card and members of the Fédération des Maisons d’écrivains; the pass Patrimoine gives free access to the full visit. Payment by cash, cheque, bank card and chèques-vacances.

Toegankelijkheid

• Deels rolstoeltoegankelijk
• Lift: geen informatie
• Aangepast toilet: geen informatie
• Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats: geen informatie
• Hulphonden welkom
• Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten: geen informatie
• Rondleidingen in gebarentaal
• Informatie in eenvoudige taal: geen informatie
• Audiodescriptie: geen informatie

Only the ground floor of the apartment museum is accessible to people with reduced mobility, because of the stairs; tablets with headphones let visitors explore the upper floor remotely for free, with audio commentary. Walking sticks with a seat are offered. Induction loop at reception and a limited number of induction loops, lent free of charge. The guided visit of the apartment is available with commentary in French Sign Language on a tablet at reception. Large-print park plans. Only guide dogs for the blind are admitted in the park and the apartment museum. The museum takes part in the Yvelines Musées Solidaires programme for 2025–2026.

Kinderen & gezin

Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen

• Gezinsrondleidingen & workshops
• Speurtocht, doeboekje of kinderaudiotour
• Verschoonruimte
• Kinderfeestjes

Artistic and literary workshops and visits for school and after-school groups; birthday party with snacks (section of the website). The sculpture garden offers a trail with pictograms to look at and discuss the works together as a family. A baby-changing table is located in the toilets next to reception. Pushchairs are not admitted in the apartment museum.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

By car: A10–A11 motorway, exit 10 “St-Arnoult-Dourdan-Rambouillet”, or RN 10, then follow the “Maison Triolet-Aragon” signs in Saint-Arnoult-en-Yvelines. GPS: rue de la Villeneuve, 78730 Saint-Arnoult-en-Yvelines. Taxis at Rambouillet (15 km) and Dourdan (10 km) stations.

Service & horeca

• Café
• Museumwinkel

Outdoor tea room open every day from 14:00 to 18:00, depending on attendance and weather (pastries, non-alcoholic cold drinks, hot drinks). Sheltered picnic tables available during opening hours. Bookshop with books, stationery and souvenirs.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

• Ruimtes te huur
• Zakelijke evenementen

Tot 150 personen.

Four spaces for private hire for 15 to 150 people: large exhibition hall, small exhibition hall, Modern Dancing and canopy. Hire from €300. On-site catering possible (cocktail, packed lunches, buffet). Wi-Fi, projector and screen included for working sessions.

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