Musée d’art et d’histoire de Meudon

The Musée d’art et d’histoire de Meudon boasts a magnificent collection of works covering the history of landscape painting in France from the late 18^th century to the 1950s. Notably, it includes pieces by artists representing the Romantic, Barbizon School, Impressionist, Symbolist, Nabis and Fauvist movements. Located in a charming 16^th-century building that was enlarged in the 17^th century and listed in 1891, the museum opened its doors to the public in 1943. Restored in the 1990s, its pretty Salon peint (or painted drawing room) still bears witness to the heyday of this fine townhouse on the banks of the Seine.

A section dedicated to Impressionist paintings presents some extremely beautiful works by the likes of Eugène Boudin (Le Port de Camaret), Alfred Sisley (Le Chemin des Petits-Prés à By), Albert Lebourg (Le Port de La Rochelle) and Stanislas Lépine (Bords de Seine en aval de Paris). Constituting something of a living conservatory of French landscapes, the displays in the permanent rooms regularly change with the seasons. These fine themed collections were begun in 2007 thanks to the generous bequest of 33 canvases by the family of passionate young collector Christian Bosviel.

Every year, two temporary exhibitions feature large on the museum’s events programme, focusing new light on a specific theme linked to the collections. In addition, workshops, artistic encounters and conferences open to a wide public are put on, reflecting the way the museum’s cultural activities are constantly being enriched. Specific initiatives have included sensory tours for the family, making use of “Sacs magiques”, children’s practical art workshops, and walking tours for adults around Meudon’s Domaine Royal, or royal estate.

Set in its own grounds, the Musée d’art et d’histoire de Meudon has a delightful formal French-style garden in the lower section. This offers a fine opportunity to create a dialogue between the museum’s collection of monumental sculptures and nature. The more sloping, wooded, upper part of the grounds has a belvedere that stands below the orangery offering a pretty view over this green, peaceful haven in the very heart of town. Visitors are free to wander around the gardens during museum opening hours.