Fabre Museum: reviews and practical tips

+22
recs
4.8/5 5 reviews
39 boulevard Bonne Nouvelle, 34000 Montpellier, France
39 boulevard Bonne Nouvelle, 34000 Montpellier, France
Musée Fabre de Montpellier

Visiting the Fabre Museum

In the sunny city of Montpellier, you will find an art museum that ranks among the country's top provincial museums. Since the 19th century, it has displayed numerous works to the public from its collection of nearly 8,000 pieces.

History

After spending time in Rome and then Florence, François-Xavier Fabre, a French painter and art collector, amassed an impressive body of artwork. Upon his return to France, he offered to donate this collection to the city of Montpellier on the condition that they build a museum to house it. The negotiations were smooth since the mayor at the time, Ange Jean Michel Bonaventure de Dax, was a friend of Fabre and an art enthusiast. In 1825, he called an extraordinary municipal council meeting to vote on the proposal, and the council approved the project. They still needed the consent of King Charles X to validate the donation. Once granted, the project moved forward.

L'hôtel de Massilian, an 18th-century private mansion, was chosen to host the collection. However, it took three years of renovations before the building was ready to open. Set in the heart of the old medieval quarter, it sits in an ideal location to serve as a major city attraction.

In 2003, the museum closed for massive renovations totaling $70,717,500*, which expanded its exhibition space from 3000m² to 9000m². This undertaking required four years of work, and the museum finally reopened in February 2007.

The Fabre Museum

By 2020, the Fabre Museum collection included about 4,000 drawings, 2,000 paintings, 1,500 prints, and 300 sculptures. Due to space limitations, only about a thousand works can be displayed at any given time. This collection was made possible through numerous donations from painters and collectors. Today, visitors can admire a wide artistic range, with most major schools represented in this remarkable space.

Opening hours

Monday Closed
Tuesday 10:00-18:00
Wednesday 10:00-18:00
Thursday 10:00-18:00
Friday 10:00-18:00
Saturday 10:00-18:00
Sunday 10:00-18:00
Hours are indicative and subject to change

Reviews of the Fabre Museum

Summary of 5 reviews
4.8/5
Average rating
+22 recs +22 -0 Score weighted by contributor expertise level: a recommendation from a level 3 member counts as 3.
Total recommendations

Ratings by visit type

With family
4.8
As a couple
4.8
With friends
4.6

Avygeo ranking

#141
in the world
#124
in Europe
#66
in France
#2
in Montpellier

Very beautiful museum

This museum has an ideal location, right in the center of Montpellier. The building itself is very well preserved and maintained. The museum is rich and features numerous paintings of all styles. There are quite a few local artists represented, which is super.

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A very rich collection of European paintings

This former private mansion, which has been completely renovated, is the very image of the collections it presents: somewhere between classicism and modernity. I really enjoyed the Flemish paintings, which complement what I had already discovered at the Louvre, as well as the canvases by Courbet. The museum also highlights the works of Pierre Soulages, and without being a fan of this artist, I was impressed by how the rooms were set up. I spent an entire afternoon there without seeing the time fly by. For the price (9 euros), the Fabre Museum is definitely worth the trip.

13
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Fabre Museum, a nice museum by the Comédie

Super well located, almost right on the place de la Comédie and its café terraces, the Fabre Museum hides quite a few great surprises for painting enthusiasts, including a space dedicated to Pierre Soulages. The painters from Montpellier (Bazille, Cabanel...) are highlighted, but you can also find superb pieces by Caillebotte, Morisot, Delacroix, Courbet, Matisse, and many others, as well as sculptures and art objects. The museum offers temporary exhibits that are often interesting, not to mention numerous workshops for kids and adults.

10
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A must-see spot

It houses a collection of European art ranging from the Middle Ages to the present day, with a special focus on French painting.
The collection is very comprehensive and the exhibits are always well organized.
There is a permanent collection across several floors and then a temporary collection that changes.

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The artistic center of Montpellier

Right in the heart of old Montpellier, inside a complex of great buildings, this museum offers the most beautiful collections of paintings and sculptures in the city. Art from the south of France as well as from Europe is highlighted here, from the Renaissance to the present day. There is also an entire private mansion that you can tour to see period furniture and decor in an authentic setting.
Children can ask for an activity kit to help them better enjoy their visit to the museum.

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