Château de Flers
About Château de Flers
The Château de Flers combines a 16th-century Renaissance wing with an 18th-century classical facade, now housing the municipal museum with free admission. The museum displays approximately 300 paintings from Italian, French, and Dutch schools, including works by Caillebotte, Courbet, and Boudin. It holds the world's largest public collection of Jean-Victor Schnetz (10 paintings and 60 drawings), whose brother once owned the château. The collections also feature ceramics by Jean Cocteau and bronzes by Aristide Rousaud, a student of Rodin. Basement rooms present the region's textile industry history. The château sits within a 26-hectare wooded park with walking paths and a bird sanctuary, accessible year-round. The museum operates seasonally from May to November, Tuesday through Sunday afternoons only. Digital features include a Micro-Folie installation with virtual access to 5,000 masterworks from French national museums, plus VR headsets and a mobile app for enhanced exploration.
Interesting Facts
Nicolas III de Grosparmy, who built the oldest wing between 1527-1541, was known as an alchemist. Local legend claims he funded construction through alchemy, but historical records show he actually owned profitable iron forges at Halouze. The wing's distinctive bell-shaped roofs crowned with lanterns remain from this original construction.
The museum became one of France's digital Micro-Folies in 2020, joining a national network that brings virtual access to masterpieces from the Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, and other major institutions. Visitors can borrow VR headsets and tablets at reception, and a dedicated mobile app 'Flers virtuel 2: le château' allows exploration of the castle's history through augmented reality.
The 26-hectare park surrounding the château features moats on three sides of the building, a remnant of medieval defensive design. The park includes an ornithological reserve and remains open year-round with extended summer hours (until 21:30 in June-August), even when the museum is closed during winter months.
Planning Your Visit
Opening Hours
Location & Practical Info
Address
Avenue du château, 61100 Flers, France
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