Musée des Beaux-Arts de Bernay (Fine Arts Museum of Bernay)

The Musée des Beaux-Arts de Bernay is one of the oldest museums in the Eure department, founded in 1865-1866 when art collector Alphonse Assegond donated his collection to the city. Housed in an elegant early 17th-century mansion that once served as the abbot's lodge of Notre-Dame Abbey, the museum displays nearly 10,000 objects across two floors, including one of the finest collections of Rouen faïence ceramics in France. Visitors can admire works by notable artists including Tintoretto's workshop, pieces from the Campana collection on deposit from the Louvre, and paintings by Louis Valtat and André Mare. The museum is remarkable for preserving its original 19th-century display methodology, offering a glimpse into how art was presented in provincial French museums over 150 years ago. Open seasonally from mid-April to late September, the museum offers free admission on the first Sunday of each month. Note that the museum is closed during winter months and on Mondays.