Musée des Augustins
A little further east on the rue de Metz, you come to another monastic order. Originally built for the powerful Augustinians in 1309, the monastery became a museum in 1793, shortly after the French Revolution and is the 2nd oldest in France after the Louvre. The two main collections are in the monastery buildings and the refectory built in the 19th century by Viollet-le-Duc: 17th-to-19th-century paintings and a striking collection of medieval sculpture. The original French gothic cloisters contain the world’s most valuable collection of beautifully carved Romanesque capitals. On the upper floors the large painting collection includes works by Rodin, Brueghel, Gérard, Delacroix, Ingres, and others. The museum also contains several portraits by Antoine Rivalz, a local artist and major talent. Important: As we went to press, the majority of the museum was closed for renovations; it is scheduled to reopen in 2025. The church and cloisters are still open to the public, however, with worthwhile art exhibits in the church (free entry).
A little further east on the rue de Metz, you come to another monastic order. Originally built for the powerful Augustinians in 1309, the monastery became a museum in 1793, shortly after the French Revolution and is the 2nd oldest in France after the Louvre. The two main collections are in the monastery buildings and the refectory built in the 19th century by Viollet-le-Duc: 17th-to-19th-century paintings and a striking collection of medieval sculpture. The original French gothic cloisters contain the world’s most valuable collection of beautifully carved Romanesque capitals. On the upper floors the large painting collection includes works by Rodin, Brueghel, Gérard, Delacroix, Ingres, and others. The museum also contains several portraits by Antoine Rivalz, a local artist and major talent. Important: As we went to press, the majority of the museum was closed for renovations; it is scheduled to reopen in 2025. The church and cloisters are still open to the public, however, with worthwhile art exhibits in the church (free entry).
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