Villa of Lost Time (Villa du Temps Retrouvé)
About Villa of Lost Time (Villa du Temps Retrouvé)
The Villa du Temps Retrouvé occupies an 1860s villa designed by architect Clément Parent, featuring a distinctive brick facade with diamond-shaped patterns. Opened in May 2021, this museum explores the Belle Époque era through the lens of Marcel Proust, who spent summers at the nearby Grand Hôtel from 1907 to 1914 and began writing his masterwork À la recherche du temps perdu here. The collection includes works and artifacts connected to figures like Sarah Bernhardt, Auguste Rodin, and Louis Pasteur. Visitors can explore exhibition spaces, an immersive room, a reading area, and gardens planted with species mentioned in Proust's novels. The museum is open from March through mid-November, with continuous hours in July and August. A tearoom and museum shop are available on site.
Interesting Facts
The museum's name directly references the final volume of Proust's seven-part novel cycle, 'Le Temps retrouvé' (Time Regained), published posthumously in 1927. The title serves as both literary homage and description of the museum's purpose: helping visitors rediscover the lost world of the Belle Époque.
Cabourg served as Proust's primary inspiration for the fictional seaside resort of Balbec, which appears prominently in 'In the Shadow of Young Girls in Flower' and other volumes. Visitors familiar with the novels can recognize real locations that Proust transformed into literary settings, making Cabourg a pilgrimage site for Proust enthusiasts worldwide.
Before its 2021 transformation into a museum, this villa operated as the Bruno Coquatrix Cultural Center, named after the famous French music hall impresario who managed the Paris Olympia for decades. The building has thus hosted both literary and musical heritage throughout its history.
Planning Your Visit
Opening Hours
Ticket Prices
General Admission
RecommendedGuided Tour
Additional fee on top of General Admission. Reservations recommended.
Location & Practical Info
Address
15 Avenue du Président Raymond Poincaré, 14390 Cabourg
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