In and around Orleans

The Museum of Fine Art

This art museum is housed in the old Town Hall not far from Place Ste Croix. The saints are subjects of reverence and there are also exhibits from Monet, Renoir, Gaugin, Rouault, Picasso and Duffy.

In and around Blois

Museums in Blois

In addition to the Religious Art and Fine Arts Museum situated within the Chateau de Blois, there is also an interesting Natural History Museum (Musée d’Histoire Naturelle) on the Rue Anne de Bretagne and the Musée de l’Objet, on Rue Franciade has an exhibition of bizarre modern art and sculptures made from disregarded objects.

In and around Tours

Museums of Tours

Tours boasts a huge variety of museums. The Musée des Beau-Arts (Museum of Fine Art), situated in the former archbishops palace, exhibits works such as Rembrandts ‘Flight into Egypt’, Mantegna’s Agony in the Garden (1457-9) and it also has the most fantastic Louis XIII room. The Musée de Gemmail is dedicated to local abstract and modern art, the Musée des Vins provides you with the superb history on wine production dating back beyond the Romans and finally, the Musée de Compagnonnage is dedicated to the artisan cult and has superb displays of the works and techniques used in order to be accepted as a master craftsman.

Tip: A museum pass can be purchased from the tourist office in Tours (carte multi-visites) and is approximately 7 Euros. It allows you entry to the five city museums, including the Musée de Beaux Arts and the Musée du Gemmail.

In and around Angers

Museums of Angers

Museums in Angers cover a wide range of subject matter and are really very interesting. The Musée Pincé exhibits a mixture of art and antiquities and the Galerie David d’Angers is devoted to the stoneworks and sculptures of the 18th century artist David d’Angers. This museum does not only hold some magnificent examples of his work but is also set in a ruined 13th century church, the Eglise Toussaint. Another interesting museum, The Museum of Fine Arts (Musée des Beaux-Arts) is situated next door, and the Musée Jean Lurcat et de la Tapisserie Contemporaine is of great importance as it houses the other famous tapestry ‘Le Chant de Monde’. This tapestry is from the 20th century and was designed by Jean Lurcat in response to the tapestry of the Apocalypse.