Fabre Museum: reviews and practical tips

+22
recos
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 sun-drenched city of Montpellier, you will find an art museum that ranks among the five most significant in provincial France. Since the 19th century, it has showcased works from a collection that now numbers nearly 8,000 pieces.

History

After spending time in Rome and Florence, François Xavier Fabre, a French painter and collector, amassed an impressive array of artwork. Upon his return to France, he offered his collection to the city of Montpellier, provided they built a museum to house it. Negotiations were simplified by the fact that the mayor at the time, Ange Jean Michel Bonaventure de Dax, was both a friend of Fabre and an art enthusiast. In 1825, he convened an extraordinary city council meeting where the project was approved. The donation still required the authorization of King Charles X, which was eventually granted, setting the project in motion.

L'hôtel de Massilian (Massilian Mansion), an 18th century private residence, was selected to house the collection. It required three years of renovations before it was ready for its opening. Situated in the heart of the old medieval city, it was ideally positioned to become a primary attraction for the city.

In 2003, the museum closed for a massive renovation project totaling 63 million EUR (about $68 million), which expanded its exhibition space from 3,000 square meters to 9,000 square meters. This construction required four years of work, and the museum did not reopen its doors until February 2007.

The Fabre Museum

As of 2020, the collection at the Fabre Museum includes approximately 4,000 drawings, 2,000 paintings, 1,500 engravings, and 300 sculptures. Due to space constraints, 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, you can admire a wide range of artistic styles, as most schools of art are represented in this impressive space.

Opening hours

Open daily except Monday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Hours are indicative and subject to change

Reviews of Fabre Museum

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Summary of 5 reviews
4.8/5
Average rating
+22
Total recommendations

Ratings by visit type

With family
4.8
As a couple
4.8
With friends
4.6

Avygeo ranking

#129
in the world
#119
in Europe
#64
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.

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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.

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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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