Museum of Fine Arts of Valenciennes (Musée des Beaux-Arts de Valenciennes)
About Museum of Fine Arts of Valenciennes (Musée des Beaux-Arts de Valenciennes)
The Musée des Beaux-Arts de Valenciennes occupies a grand Third Republic building inaugurated in 1909, designed by architect Paul Dusart with distinctive double glazing systems and a dome painted by Lucien Jonas. The museum houses one of France's finest Rubens collections, including major works like The Descent from the Cross and the Triptych of Saint Stephen. Valenciennes was the birthplace of painter Antoine Watteau (1684) and sculptor Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux (1827), and the museum holds exceptional collections from both artists, including over 100 of Carpeaux's sketchbooks. The 4,400 m² exhibition space spans from Gallo-Roman archaeology to 20th-century art, with particular strength in Flemish painting. NOTE: The museum is currently closed for a €20 million renovation project and will reopen in September 2026. Free entry on the first Sunday of each month when open.
Interesting Facts
The museum building was financed through a public lottery drawn on March 15, 1905, which generated enough profit to cover the entire construction cost of the new Palais des Beaux-Arts.
The collection includes a painting by a mysterious artist known only as the "Master of the Double-Sided Panel of the Valenciennes Museum" – named after a single work showing Saint James before the Magician Hermogenes on one side and The Temptations of Saint Anthony on the reverse.
The 1995 renovation doubled the museum's exhibition space and revealed the basement, where Gallo-Roman archaeological artifacts are now displayed. This expansion added an auditorium with nearly 100 seats and educational workshops for visitors.
Planning Your Visit
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Address
43 Boulevard Watteau, 59300 Valenciennes, France