The Musée des Beaux Arts has one of France’s finest collections of enamel as well as fine art and archaeological artifacts. Visit the museum as much for the building as the collection. Housed in the former bishop’s palace and set in the spectacular Jardin de l’Évêché, the neoclassical building stands out against the more medieval architecture of the rest of the city.
Begin your visit on the first floor, where the museum’s extensive collection of enamelwork from Limoges and abroad resides. Admire the fine craftsmanship of Limousin medieval enamels, before moving on to magnificent painted enamels from the Renaissance. Imagine the incredible devotion of the artisans as they bent over their work. Move forward in history and around the world, observing how enamelwork has evolved over centuries.
Pop out at the end for a walk through the museum’s painting collection, featuring three tableaus by Auguste Renoir, a son of Limoges, and numerous portraits done by the remarkable Suzanne Valadon.
Appreciate the architectural details of the stonework as you walk up the staircase to the archaeological section on the second floor. Wander through Gallo-Roman artifacts found during the dig of Augustoritum, a nearby town that served as a hub in the age of Roman occupation of Haute-Vienne. Picture the Roman town as it was, with its mosaics and treasures.
Go farther back in time in the small but robust Egyptian antiquities collection, donated in the early 20th century by a local industrialist who had made his fortune in the sugarcane fields of Egypt.
View intricate models of Limoges in the basement, tracking the development of the city from the Middle Ages to 1900.
The Musée des Beaux Arts is located next to Limoges Cathedral, on the eastern end of Old Town Limoges. Walk here in 10 minutes from the center of the Old Town or in 15 minutes from the train station. The museum is open every day except Tuesday during the summer and closes for lunch. In winter, the museum is also closed on Sunday mornings. Admission is free for those under the age of 26 and a small amount for others.
