Musée des Beaux-Arts de Tours

Museum in Tours

Garden At Musee Des Beaux Arts In Tours, France

CC BY-SA 2.0 / Casper Moller

The Musée des Beaux-Arts de Tours occupies a former bishop’s palace whose construction began in the late 18th century, blending classical façades with sober stonework that complements the adjacent Cathédrale Saint-Gatien. Set around an elegant inner courtyard, the building’s grand staircase and soaring galleries evoke the grandeur of Tours’ ecclesiastical past even before you glimpse the first paintings. Its transformation into a museum in 1910 preserved many original architectural details—corniced ceilings, ornate doorways and wrought-iron balustrades—that frame the art on display.

Inside, the museum’s collection spans the 15th through the 20th centuries, with particular strength in French and Northern European painting. Early works by Flemish masters such as Brueghel and Van Dyck hang alongside Italian Renaissance altarpieces, creating a dialogue of styles and techniques. The 17th- and 18th-century galleries showcase Baroque dynamism and Rococo refinement in pieces by Vouet, Boucher and Vien, while the Romantic period is represented by Delacroix’s expressive brushwork and Chesley’s dramatic landscapes.

On the upper floor, Impressionist and Post-Impressionist canvases by Monet, Renoir and Cézanne draw art-lovers into an exploration of light and color. Contemporary acquisitions and regular temporary exhibitions introduce modern currents, from abstract compositions to multimedia installations, ensuring that repeat visits reveal something new. Don’t miss the museum’s jewel-like cabinet of drawings and miniatures, where intimate sketches by Ingres and detailed pastels by Marie-Laurencin reward close inspection.

Practical touches make the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Tours a pleasure to visit: a bright café overlooks the courtyard, perfect for pausing between galleries, and the museum shop offers quality reproductions and art books. Audio guides and themed paper trails guide both families and specialists through the collections, while evening openings and lecture series bring the galleries to life after hours. Located just a five-minute walk from the train station, it’s an ideal first stop for orienting yourself in Tours before venturing to the Loire Valley’s famed châteaux.

The Musée des Beaux-Arts de Tours appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Tours!

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