The town of Nemours is full of surprises, with its Musée de la Préhistoire d'Île-de-France (Museum of Île-de-France Prehistory ) set on sandstone fields used by man in prehistoric times, and its 12th-century château, considered to be the oldest town château in Île-de-France still visible!
According to written records, the château was founded in the mid-12th century by Gauthier I de Villebéon, grand chamberlain to kings Louis VII and Philippe Auguste. During the French Revolution, the château became the property of the City of Nemours, and was used as a theater, school, warehouse and meeting room, before the Nemours sculptor Justin-Chrysostome Sanson (1833-1910) proposed to found a museum there in 1901.
Since 1903, the Château de Nemours has been home to the Musée des Beaux-Arts, currently boasting some 20,000 works: sculptures, paintings, graphic arts (drawings, prints) and photographs emblematic of the art of the second half of the 19th century and the early 20th century. With this in mind, the museum has decided to accelerate the inventory of the Château-Musée collection, and to clarify the condition of the objects listed.
Would you like to discover this fascinating place steeped in history? Good news: Museum Night is on its way! On Saturday, May 17, 2025, the Château-Musée de Nemours will be unveiling its program to the delight of the curious and the passionate!
Discover the real 17th-century dungeons of the Château-Musée, to get a better idea of the prison world of that era.
In partnership with the Fonds régional d'Art Contemporain d'Île-de-France, works by contemporary artists irrigate the Île-de-France region in direct encounter with its rich medieval heritage and a wide public. In this context, the Château-Musée welcomes four artists: sculptor Frederic Exner, artist Lucy Skaer, textile artist Bridget Low and American designer Diego Giacometti.
During this Nuit des Musées, visitors to the Château-Musée will discover some major new features. A permanent tour has been set up on the first floor, offering visitors the opportunity to discover or revisit the museum's flagship works in a brand-new immersive scenography.
The first floor is devoted to a "Traits de génies" exhibition, featuring the finest works from the Cabinet des Arts Graphiques. Drawings and prints by renowned artists from the 15th to the 18th centuries are on display.
A magnificent collection of graphic arts, paintings and sculptures emblematic of the art of the late 19th and early 20th centuries awaits us in this listed building. Shall we go, friends?
Dates and Opening Time
On May 17, 2025
Location
Nemours Castle
Rue Gautier 1er
77140 Darvault
Prices
Free
Recommended age
For all
Official website
www.nemours.fr
