Archive for 'Museums & Galleries in France'

While the lucky among us may be stuck safely indoors at the moment, it does not mean that it isn't hard and frustrating. Luckily, in the time that we live in today, if you have an internet connection, you can basically explore the whole world from your own home; from attending online personal training sessions and dance classes, to doing virtual pub quizzes with pals, to screening recent cinema releases on your own television, to using Google Street View to explore cities all over the globe. In addition to all of this the Google Arts & Culture program and various schemes from different museums globally has made museums and art galleries all over the world accessible at the click of a button, with catalogues of holdings and virtual tours.

If you had been hoping to get to France this spring to enjoy the pleasant weather, lovely towns and cities, cuisine, flowers and blossom trees, and the abundant cultural wealth of her architectural gems, tourist attractions, and museums but had to postpone your trip then, fear not: all is not entirely lost because you can still visit many of the country's best and most beloved galleries...virtually!

Here is our guide to some of the best museums in France that you can visit online and for free right now!

Provence, as a region, is full of incredibly beautiful sights from endless lavender fields, to ancient monasteries, to stunning beaches, to perfectly pretty medieval towns full of architectural gems. If you have found a vacation rental in Provence and are exploring the region and you are looking for particularly lovely examples of the latter, we recommend a visit to the gorgeous town of Avignon in France and to the Palais des Papes.

In 1305, Clement V was elected as Pope and famously made the decision to transfer papal power to Avignon in order to avoid the political unrest of Rome at the time. With this move, a new home for the papal seat was required and the largest medieval gothic palace in the world was built upon the foundations of an old Episcopal bishop's palace. This building, though begun under Clement V was greatly expanded under Benedict XII in 1334 and then even further under Clement VI in 1342 when he joined Benedict XII's Palais Vieux (Old Palace) and the Palais Neuf (New Palace). All of these extensions and this expansion eventually added up to create the monumental gem full of incredible objects and a rich and complex history that we know today; it covers a whopping 15,000 square metres, boasts ten fortified towers, was home to Europe's largest library at the time, excellent frescoes and fresco cycles, and much more besides.

In the last post, we introduced the exceptionally beautiful Palais Rohan de Strasbourg, which is a stunning example of French Baroque and a former dwelling of the prince-bishops and the cardinals of the House of Rohan, an ancient French noble family originally from Brittany. Today it is home to three of the city’s most important museums – the Musée des Beaux-Arts, Musée Archéologique, and Musée des Arts Décoratifs – and, as such, is a very important attraction and landmark in the city. If you have found a vacation rental in Alsace and are planning on exploring the lovely city of Strasbourg, it is definitely a must-see, not only for the incredible 18th century palace itself but also for the museums inside and their wonderful collections. Open daily (except Tuesdays) from 10am to 6pm and costing just €4 a piece to visit (or €2 at the reduced rate), they offer worlds of amazing art and design to get lost in at very reasonable price points.

Those who have found a vacation rental in Alsace should definitely set aside some time to go and explore the stunning city of Strasbourg. Over 2,000 years old, it is located in the east of France, on the border between France and Germany. As a border city, it is a mish-mash of different cultural influences and is also UNESCO-awarded and famously lovely. The Old Town is a maze of pretty little streets lined in buildings that represent a variety of different periods and architectural styles from the Middle Ages to the period of the Art Nouveau era and half-timbered houses and explosions of colourful blooms line the waterways located throughout the city. All in all, it is simply utterly picturesque and steeped in history and culture. It is gasp-inducingly pretty and it is well-worth spending a day or two wandering around and taking in all that it has to offer.

One of the most beautiful highlights of this gorgeous place is the Palais Rohan de Strasbourg. A former residence of the prince-bishops and the cardinals of the House of Rohan, which was an ancient French noble family originally from Brittany, it is now one of the city’s most important (if not the most important) landmarks and attractions. Located next to the Cathedral of Strasbourg, it is a masterclass in the French Baroque and an exceptional beauty.

If you have found yourself a vacation rental in Provence and are looking for things to do in that beautiful part of the world, we would have to suggest a visit to the Fondation Vincent Van Gogh in Arles. This extraordinary gallery and museum is devoted to the life and work of the great Van Gogh and, in particular, his incredibly productive stay in Arles. A permanent collection of works by Van Gogh himself and by other artists in homage to his oeuvre, as well as temporary contemporary art exhibitions, are displayed throughout the museum, which is, in of itself, a rather beautiful work of art. If you're a Van Gogh fan or art lover visiting the area, it is a must-see attraction.

Vincent van Gogh came to live in Arles in 1888, in search of what he described as a “different kind of light” and he must have found it as is period in the city was the most productive of his life. It was then and there that masterpieces such as “Sunflowers” and “The Bedroom” were born. Sadly, few traces of the artist remained in the place that had inspired him so, bar the hospital in which he was treated after the infamous ear incident. To right this shame and reestablish a connection with the artist, a non-profit foundation was established according to Van Gogh's own desire to have an international center of artistic creation and exchange in Arles.