To every corner of the Île-de-France region, cultural venues nestle inside buildings with unexpectedly rich pasts. In Milly-la-Forêt, in Essonne, the Espace culturel Paul Bédu stands as a prime example: here, a former boys’ school has given way to a center for the arts, where visitors today come to admire works, wander the galleries, and discover a slice of Francilien cultural heritage.
This transformation stems from the story of Paul Bédu and, above all, his wife Gabrielle Lagarde, the driving force behind the art-center project. In 1990 she bequeathed her husband’s collection to the city and supported the renovation of the building so it could be shown to the public under proper conditions. The venue subsequently opened as a municipal cultural space in 2000.
Here, there are more than 200 works of art on display for visitors. The collection put together by Paul Bédu features drawings, paintings and art objects, with a strong emphasis on 20th-century French painting. Landscapes, portraits, still lifes, genre scenes and views of Paris sit side by side among works by artists such as Charles Camoin, Marie Laurencin, Jean Cocteau or Niki de Saint Phalle.
The venue also operates to the rhythm of a year‑round program, with notable highlights that stand out during events like the Nuit des Musées, for example. Between the Paul Bédu Cultural Center, the Cyclop and the crypt of the Moustier, the town of Milly-la-Forêt is undeniably full of wonderful visits for art lovers!
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Location
Paul Bédu Cultural Space
8 bis Rue Farnault
91490 Milly la Foret
