Musée des Beaux-Arts de Tours

Tours, France

The Musée des beaux-arts de Tours (Museum of Fine Arts of Tours) is located in the bishop's former palace, near the cathedral St. Gatien, where it has been since 1910. It displays rich and varied collections, including that of painting which is one of the first in France both in quality and the diversity of the works presented.

In the courtyard, there is a magnificent cedar of Lebanon and and a stuffed elephant in a building in front of the museum. This elephant was killed because of a bout of madness during a circus parade by the "Barnum & Bailey" circus in the streets of Tours on 10 June 1902.

The museum has over 12,000 works but only 1,000 are on show to the public. On the ground floor, the museum has a room especially dedicated to Tours art of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. The museum was classified as a monument historique on 27 June 1983.

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Address

Rue Lavoisier 53, Tours, France
See all sites in Tours

Details

Founded: 1910
Category: Museums in France

Rating

4.3/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Paula R. C. (5 months ago)
Really beautifull. The expo was amazing, lot of things to see with a good explanation. The garden was enormoud and a good place for a walk.
A J (8 months ago)
Really nice museum with gorgeous works from the greats! Don’t forget to ask for a student discount if you’re a student. There’s also a nice garden in front of the museum where you can enjoy a picnic in the park. Staff are friendly and helpful.
Peer Kristijan (10 months ago)
It boasts a good collection. Most of the items on display are pretty old, but there are a few which are of the contemporary style. Among the items in the collection which are more unique are a vintage clock and several Roman-era sculptures. Since this museum is located inside a historic mansion, you also get to tour much of it. It's mostly emptied out but there are some ornate fireplaces, nice staircases, and beautiful doors. The entrance to the enclosure of the museum was historic and nicely detailed. It's free for those who are under 26. All in all, it's a great place to visit.
Bengt Forsberg (2 years ago)
If you would like to visit this museum you nearly have to speak French (more or less fluently). No information is in English. And the staff only speak French. There are quit a lot of known artists shown here but not the their best work. But the real problem is the staff attitude. They are really rude and it seems like their main goal is to prevent people from going back to see a painting one more time. If you do that mistake, they are going to flex some muscles (and scream rapidly in French). The garden outside (and especially the Lebanon Cedar tree) is beautiful. It is free & without guards yelling at you and telling you which direction you can go.
Rob van Hees (2 years ago)
The museum “Musée des beaux-arts de Tours” is a hidden gem in the town of Tours. It is located in the former bishop's palace, near St. Gatien cathedral. The collection is small but interesting.
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