The Musée des Beaux-Arts de Tours occupies the former Archbishop's Palace, built against the south flank of the Cathedral of Saint-Gatien in Tours, the departmental capital of Indre-et-Loire in Centre-Val de Loire. The palace complex dates primarily from the 17th and 18th centuries, though lower walls incorporate medieval masonry from the earlier episcopal residence; following the 1905 separation of church and state the building was transferred to the municipality and inaugurated as a fine arts museum in 1910. Successive restoration campaigns since the 1990s have progressively reopened gallery wings in improved condition. The permanent collection covers roughly six centuries of European painting, sculpture, and decorative arts, beginning with late Gothic devotional work and extending through the Italian Renaissance, Flemish and Dutch Baroque, the French classical tradition, and into academic painting of the 19th century. The museum's most celebrated holdings are two small panel paintings by Andrea Mantegna — The Resurrection and The Agony in the Garden, both dating from around 1457 to 1459 — which rank among the most significant Italian Renaissance works in any French provincial collection outside Paris. The galleries also hold canvases attributed to Rubens and a representative group of 17th-century Dutch masters, alongside works by major figures of the French school including Delacroix. The display follows a broadly chronological sequence across the palace's principal rooms, each gallery retaining original architectural features such as painted ceilings, carved cornices, and wood-panelled walls that complement the works on show. A dedicated ground-floor space hosts temporary exhibitions mounted several times a year, often incorporating loans from major French national institutions or presenting thematic reassessments of the permanent collection. The former chapel within the palace complex is preserved as part of the museum circuit, its original woodwork intact. The courtyard garden between the museum and the cathedral contains a large cedar of Lebanon planted in the early 19th century, one of the more notable specimens in the Loire Valley. Audio guides in French and English are available at the ticket desk, and entry is free on the first Sunday of each month.
| Admission | €6 (~$6.50) |
|---|---|
| Address | 18 Place François-Sicard, 37000 Tours |
Location
18 Place François-Sicard, 37000 Tours
Highlights
- Two Mantegna panel paintings (c.1457–59): The Resurrection and The Agony in the Garden, among the finest Italian Renaissance works in a French provincial collection
- Former Archbishop's Palace setting with vaulted medieval galleries and original 17th-century grand reception rooms
- Courtyard cedar of Lebanon planted in the early 19th century, adjacent to the Cathedral of Saint-Gatien
- Flemish and Dutch Baroque canvases including works attributed to Rubens
- Regular temporary exhibitions drawing on loans from major French national institutions
Tips for visiting
- Begin in the Italian Renaissance galleries to see the Mantegna panels before coach groups arrive mid-morning
- Free entry on the first Sunday of each month; arrive before 10:00 to avoid queues on that day
- English-language audio guides are available at the ticket desk for a small additional fee
- The courtyard garden is open during museum hours and makes a good mid-visit rest point
- Combine with the Cathedral of Saint-Gatien next door; both share the same courtyard and are easily visited together
Accessibility
The ground-floor galleries are accessible to wheelchair users via a ramp entrance on the courtyard side. Lift access is available to some upper-floor rooms, though certain historic spaces with original stairways remain inaccessible. Visitors with specific mobility requirements should contact the museum in advance to plan their route.
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Frequently asked questions
Are English-language resources available?
English-language audio guides are available at the ticket desk for a small fee. Most permanent-collection labels are in French, so the audio guide is strongly recommended for non-French-speaking visitors.
How long does a full visit take?
A thorough visit through the permanent collection typically takes 90 minutes to two hours. Including a temporary exhibition will extend the visit to around two and a half hours.
Is the museum suitable for children?
Children are welcome and the palatial building — with its grand rooms, painted ceilings, and courtyard garden — tends to engage younger visitors. No dedicated children's programme is offered, but the architecture itself is accessible to all ages.
Is there a free-entry day?
Entry is free on the first Sunday of each month throughout the year. Standard admission is €6, with reduced rates for students and visitors under 26.