Nemours Castle Museum: Sweden comes to this medieval castle

In southern Seine-et-Marne (77), the Château-Musée de Nemours is reopening after two months of closure with an exhibition that transports visitors to a whole new world. From November 8, 2026, to April 18, 2027, A Swedish Castle showcases a private collection of Swedish art and objects from the 19th and 20th centuries, displayed as an authentic home interior.

We know this fortress on the banks of the Loing well, having explored it from the keep to the lawns. And the idea of Scandinavian-style sitting rooms turning up there intrigues us as much as it appeals to us: it’s a little as if a chalet from Dalarna had found refuge in a 12th-century castle.

What to see in the exhibition A Castle in Sweden?

More than a hundred works and objects have been brought together for the occasion: Swedish paintings, furniture, sculptures, prints, photographs and decorative arts. They come from a major French private collection, built up over more than forty years by a couple of enthusiasts and comprising several thousand pieces.

The exhibition offers an overview of Swedish painting from the late 19th century to the 1930s. According to the City of Nemours, it features works by Carl Larsson, Olle Hjortzberg, Arvid Johansson, Garibaldi Lindberg, Axel Nordgren, Axel Fahlcrantz and Carl Hallström, among others. Highlights include snowy landscapes, northern coastlines, portraits and scenes from everyday life, reflecting the love of nature and light that runs through Swedish art of the period.

The exhibition also explores exchanges between Sweden and France, at the intersection of art, nature and modernity. A collection rarely shown to the public, making it a real curiosity to discover.

An immersive exhibition in the home of a collector

What sets this exhibition apart is its scenography. No rows of paintings lining the walls: château-museum director Jérôme Fourmanoir wants to “immerse visitors in the collector’s home.” Furniture and artworks mingle in recreated spaces, including a portrait gallery, a drawing room, a study, a bedroom and a fireside nook.

The atmosphere is set to follow suit, with intimate lighting that evokes candlelight, a soundscape and even an olfactory element. Visitors are invited to sit on the furniture and take their time looking at the works. It’s a rather unusual way to visit a museum, and one that fits well with the Swedish spirit: Carl Larsson’s family home in Sundborn, after all, has become a model of Scandinavian living.

For those who love immersive exhibitions, this is a gentler take, far removed from XXL projections: here, you sit down, listen, breathe and look.

Why Swedish artists in Nemours?

The choice of Nemours was no coincidence. At the end of the 19th century, the nearby village of Grez-sur-Loing, a few kilometres upstream on the Loing, was home to an international artists’ colony, including many Swedes. Carl Larsson met his future wife, the painter Karin Bergöö, there. Today, the former Hôtel Chevillon, where these artists stayed, is still home to the Grez-sur-Loing Foundation, which hosts Scandinavian artists and researchers in residence.

The château-museum itself preserves several reminders of these exchanges, including works by Oscar Törnå and Emma Chadwick, a Swedish artist who settled in Grez-sur-Loing. Some pieces from the Nemours collections are therefore included in the exhibition route. To learn more, the association Les Artistes du Bout du Monde traces the history of these artists’ colonies.

How has the Château de Nemours survived to the present day?

Unlike most fortresses built around the same time, the Château de Nemours was spared the dismantling ordered by the Crown. The close relationship between its lords and the monarchy saved it from that fate.

Built in the late 12th century, the structure was commissioned by Gauthier I de Villebéon, chamberlain to the King of France. He had a rectangular keep built, flanked by four corner turrets, one of which still houses a Gothic oratory.

During the Renaissance, the château became the residence of the dukes of Nemours, including Jacques of Savoy, who is said to have inspired the hero of Madame de Lafayette’s La Princesse de Clèves. Louis XIV later gave it to his brother Philippe d’Orléans, after which the building fell into a long period of disrepair.

• To be read
• The best things to do in Paris and Île-de-France from November 2 to 8, 2026
• Free museums in Paris and free monuments in Île-de-France: the top cultural deals

In 1901, a group of artists from Nemours, led by sculptor Justin-Chrysostome Sanson, decided to save the château from demolition. Two years later, in 1903, the château-museum opened its doors. Today, it holds the designation Musée de France and houses more than 25,000 works, including prints by Dürer, Goya and Rembrandt, and Albert Matignon’s Morphine.

What visitor tools are available at the Château-Musée?

A free audio guide is available on smartphones via the Wivisites platform, with three routes: exterior architecture, interior history and collections. Scavenger hunts are also included to get children involved in the visit.

A virtual reality headset also lets visitors explore spaces usually closed to the public and follow in the footsteps of Gauthier Iᵉʳ in 360°. For school groups, workshops led by a cultural mediator are available from preschool through high school, and an educational resource pack accompanies the Swedish exhibition. Groups can combine their visit with a tour of the town organized by the Pays de Nemours tourist office.

What to do around Nemours Castle?

The visit doesn’t end at the museum walls. The castle lawn, on the banks of the Loing, is open to the public, with the fortress as a backdrop. Dogs are allowed on a leash. Even in winter, a short walk along the river after the exhibition is a welcome pleasure.

A stone’s throw away, the Nemours Mill conceals a landscaped walk of around one kilometer, behind the flour mill bought by the town in 2014. It runs alongside a wetland, with viewing platforms facing the château and the Loing, open during the season. In fine weather, the Nemours Mill terrace becomes a guinguette, with loungers and electric boats: a good reason to come back in spring, before the exhibition ends.

A little farther on, Perthuis Island is a five-hectare natural area designated as a Natura 2000 site, right in the city center. A boardwalk more than 200 meters long, reached by a footbridge from the Cour des Moulins, offers a chance to observe the wildlife and plant life of this wetland, with views of the river and the château. A free nature break, just a few minutes’ walk from the museum. Note, however, that this walk is open only from April to October.  

Is the Château-Musée free?

The grounds of the château, the lawn and the banks of the Loing are open to visitors free of charge all year round. Admission to the interior is free on the first Sunday of each month. During the exhibition, the dates to note are December 6, 2026, January 3, February 7, March 7 and April 4, 2027. Château de Nemours is also among our free museums in Paris and free monuments in Île-de-France.

The rest of the time, the Château-Musée de Nemours (rue Gautier Ier) is open Wednesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. It is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Admission is €6 at the full rate and €4 at the reduced rate (ages 19–25 and over 60), with tickets available online on the City of Nemours website. From Paris, Transilien line R connects Gare de Lyon to Nemours (Nemours-Saint-Pierre station) in about an hour.

Who is this outing for?

This exhibition is for fans of 19th-century painting, anyone curious about Scandinavian design, and everyone who prefers to take their time on a visit. The intimate setting, with armchairs to sit in, also makes it a good fit for families looking to avoid crowded museums. A tip: free admission on the first Sunday of the month draws a crowd, so Wednesday or Thursday is a better time to enjoy the rooms in peace.

To round off a day of heritage visits, two other places in the area are well worth a visit. The Château de Fontainebleau is hosting an exhibition devoted to Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI until January 25, 2027, while the village of Grez-sur-Loing, the birthplace of the Swedish artists’ colony, can be explored on foot in just a few hours (see our article below). For more ideas, check out our guides to exhibitions at châteaux in Paris and the Île-de-France region and châteaux to visit in the Île-de-France region.

Also read on Sortiraparis:

Grez-sur-Loing: Discover this superb authentic medieval village in Seine-et-Marne along the river
Located in the Seine-et-Marne region of France, Grez-sur-Loing is an unmissable getaway to recharge your batteries and discover a pretty village frozen in time. This medieval village is brimming with charm and history. Stroll, hike or canoe along the water's edge, it's a place well worth the detour. [Read more]

An exhibition dedicated to Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI at the Château de Fontainebleau
The Château de Fontainebleau is hosting the exhibition "Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI at Fontainebleau: Splendor and Sweetness of Life" from October 11, 2026, to January 25, 2027. This is a wonderful opportunity for history buffs to immerse themselves in the life of the royal couple. [Read more]

The Musée de la Préhistoire (Prehistory Museum), an immersion into the life of the first humans, in Nemours (77).
Located in the town of Nemours in the Seine-et-Marne département, the Musée de Préhistoire d'Île-de-France takes you on a journey of discovery into the daily lives of our prehistoric ancestors and their way of life. [Read more]

Château de Fontainebleau, the second home of the Kings of France
The Château de Fontainebleau invites you to discover its spaces and its history. Come and admire this superb château, with its medieval and classical styles, and its ornate gardens covering more than 130 hectares. [Read more]

Seine-et-Marne: the guinguette — a riverside terrace on the Loing with a view of the medieval castle has reopened.
La Terrasse du Moulin de Nemours, an open-air guinguette-terrace on the banks of the Loing, has reopened for the 2026 season in Seine-et-Marne. A bar, an open-air food market and views of the medieval castle await you. [Read more]

This medieval town, designated a Village of Character in Île-de-France, hides a wealth of treasures.
We head to Seine-et-Marne (77), less than an hour from Paris, to discover Nemours, a medieval town awarded the Village of Character label, tucked into the meanders of the Loing and rich with a heritage to explore year-round. The castle, museums and a sublime church make up a remarkable ensemble to discover. [Read more]

What to do in Seine-et-Marne (77)? Heritage, good addresses and activities, ideas for outings
Would you like to conquer the heritage of the Île-de-France region? We'll take you on a tour of places to visit and things to do in Seine-et-Marne. [Read more]

This page may contain AI-assisted elements, more information here.