Museum of Fine Arts and Archaeology

Welcome to the Museum of Fine Arts and Archaeology ! This major heritage landmark stands out with its many windows and remarkable backstory. Founded in 1694, nearly a century before the Louvre, it’s the oldest museum in France, and ranks among the most important. The museum received four major donations that shaped and enriched its exceptional collections, divided into three main sections. First, there’s the archaeology department, home to Egyptian artifacts more than 3,000 years old, as well as Gallo-Roman relics uncovered in this region. Then comes the fine arts gallery, where you’ll find masterpieces by some of Europe’s greatest painters, with works by Bellini, Titian, and Tintoretto. Finally, there’s the drawing cabinet, with more than 5,500 works dating from the 15th to the 20th century. The collection spans artists from Italy, France, and even the Nordic countries, offering a sweeping overview of European artistic talent. But the museum also stands out for its bold architecture. Its most recent extension, built in raw concrete, gives it a strikingly modern edge, while still preserving hints of its original use as a grain hall in the 17th century.