For culture enthusiasts and bargain hunters alike, the Night of Museums is an event not to be missed. Held across Europe, this annual celebration offers a fresh perspective on our cultural heritage with a lineup of extraordinary late-night openings, free tours, and unique immersive activities at the heart of museums, landmarks, castles, and grand institutions. As you might expect, Paris and its surroundings embrace the occasion wholeheartedly, unveiling a spectacular program for this upcoming edition scheduled for Saturday, May 23, 2026.
Why not take this opportunity to discover the heritage of Seine-et-Marne ? The 77 département is packed with cultural treasures well worth a visit. If you're in the south of Seine-et-Marne, now's the time to stop off at the Musée départemental des peintres de Barbizon. The museum is housed in a former farmhouse, now a grocery store and inn.
The Musée des peintres de Barbizon is the result of the merger of the former Auberge Ganne and the artist Théodore Rousseau's home and studio. Here you'll find some one hundred works by 19th-century painters who frequented the village, including, in addition to Théodore Rousseau, Rosa Bonheur, Jean-François Millet and Narcisse Díaz de la Peña. So, what's in store for the Nuit des Musées?
Aspiring speakers
Experience a unique after-hours tour of the Barbizon Painters Museum, led by passionate middle school students! Students from 6th and 5th grades, along with those from the ULIS program at Alfred Sisley Middle School in Moret-sur-Loing, step into the role of guides for an evening. They’ll share the fascinating history of the Ganne Inn, tell captivating anecdotes and discoveries, and reveal their favorite artworks—all told in their own words.
Participation conditions: Free | No reservation required
Timings: Saturday, May 23, 2026 — 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM
An Unexpected Journey (a theatre show)
Immersive theatre show with six performers from the Les Arlequins company
Between scenes, songs, bursts of laughter and wandering through Auberge Ganne, the artists of Barbizon come back to life for a single evening.
Round a stairwell, Diaz, Millet, Rousseau—or Daumier—emerge in an inn buzzing with voices, snoring and workshop memories.
Carried by the actors, visitors move from room to room, stepping into a delicate atmosphere that blends fragrances, forest sounds and echoes of the great works yet to come. A living, immersive spectacle, part theatre and part voyage into the intimate world of Barbizon’s painters.
Participation requirements: Free | No reservation required
Schedule: Saturday, May 23, 2026 — 8:00 PM to 11:59 PM
Dates and Opening Time
On May 23, 2026
Location
Musée départemental des peintres de Barbizon
92 Grande Rue
77630 Barbizon
Prices
Free
Official website
www.musee-peintres-barbizon.fr
