Musée national de la Renaissance

Over het museum

The Château d'Écouen was built between 1538 and 1555 for Anne de Montmorency, Constable of France, after a medieval castle was demolished. Many artists and craftsmen, including Jean Bullant, Bernard Palissy and Jean Goujon, worked on its construction and decoration. The estate remained in the Montmorency family until 1632 and then passed to the Condé family.

During the Revolution, the château served in turn as a meeting place, a military prison and a hospital. In 1805 Napoleon founded a school there for the daughters of members of the Légion d'honneur, which operated, with interruptions, until 1962. The entrance wing had been destroyed in 1787 by the Condés and was rebuilt in 1807.

The Ministry of Cultural Affairs later chose the château to house the Musée national de la Renaissance, which opened in 1977 after major restoration work. Most of the collections come from the Musée de Cluny, where Edmond du Sommerard had gathered them. Original elements of the château, such as stained-glass windows, floors and fittings, are integrated into the display.

The displays include tapestries, ceramics, enamels, goldsmiths' work, weapons, furniture and scientific objects from the 16th century. The large tapestry of David and Bathsheba, 75 meters long, is installed in the Galerie de Psyché.

Hoogtepunten

• Tapestry of David and Bathsheba (75 m long)
• Galerie de Psyché
• Iznik ceramics and Italian maiolica
• Enamels by Léonard Limosin and goldsmiths' work
• Stained-glass windows, floors and original château decoration
• Estate park, free admission

Opgericht

1977

Beheerder

Ministère de la Culture (musée national)

Directie

Thierry Crépin-Leblond

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

Gratis toegang: First Sunday of each month

Admission gives access to the permanent collections and may be increased during temporary exhibitions. Because of the façade works, the reduced rate of €6 applies to all visitors. Free admission with proof is also granted to job seekers, recipients of social minimum benefits, teachers, journalists, and members of ICOM and ICOMOS, among others. The park is free to enter.

Toegankelijkheid

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

Ramps and a lift serving all three levels provide access to about 90% of the rooms. A wheelchair and seat canes can be lent. Three parking spaces are reserved in front of the château entrance (permit required), but vehicle access to the grounds is restricted on weekdays during the works on the honor gate (grille d'honneur). Because of the works, the museum is currently not accessible to blind or visually impaired visitors. Specialized guided tours exist for mental and emotional disabilities (groups of 12 people maximum), and tours in French Sign Language are offered.

Kinderen & gezin

Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen

• Gezinsrondleidingen & workshops
• Speurtocht, doeboekje of kinderaudiotour

Two activity booklets to download (ages 4–7 and 7–12) allow a self-guided visit. Workshop tours for parents, children and grandparents are led by a guide; reservation is required.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

By car: A1 motorway from the Porte de la Chapelle, Francilienne exit (N104) towards Cergy-Pontoise, then Écouen exit (RD316). From Écouen-Ézanville station, the museum can also be reached on foot in 20 minutes through the forest. The bus stop may be moved because of works at the station.

Service & horeca

Online museum shop. The website refers visitors to the tourist office for places to eat in Écouen and the surrounding area.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

• Ruimtes te huur
• Zakelijke evenementen

Seminars, receptions and private visits for companies, for 19 to 200 people in the museum rooms and more than 800 guests in the courtyard or park. Available spaces: bath apartment, Iznik ceramics room, the Great Queen's Room, Galerie de Psyché, inner courtyard, north terrace and west parterre.

Je bezoek plannen