Musée Chartreuse 5 Douai Beaux Arts Douaisis Nord France (c) Ad Langlet

Musée de la Chartreuse,Douai

The Musée de la Chartreuse, a cultural journey from the Middle Ages to the present day!

Douai is home to one of the region’s true cultural treasures: the Musée de la Chartreuse. Built in 1559 for the Abancourt family, this private mansion was sold to the Carthusian religious order in 1662. Later uses included a period as an ammunition factory, then a munitions and war material depot until the start of World War II.

Museum website

More than just architecture, a thrilling history!

Museum of the Chartreuse, fine arts, sculpture, paintings, Douai, northern France (c)ADLanglet

On arrival at the Musée de la Chartreuse, you will first be struck by the magnificent facades and the wing dominated by the high square tower, built by the Montmorency family. In Flemish Renaissance style, the walls are a subtle mix of stone and brick. You can also admire the mullioned windows topped with pediments. A small and a large cloister, a refectory, a chapter house and a classical chapel – completed in 1722 – were also added after the arrival of the Carthusian order. Damaged during the bombings of 11 August 1944, in 1951 this incredible building was purchased by the city of Douai, as the new home for the collections of the former museum, which had been completely destroyed during the Second World War.

Musée De La Chartreuse Douai Beaux Arts Sculptures Douaisis Nord France

A stunning art collection, magical gardens...

Today, the Musée de la Chartreuse houses the works of renowned artists. Paintings by Van Scorel, Bellegambe, Rubens, Veronese, Ruisdael, Renoir and Pissarro… Enough to compete with the greatest museums! And that’s without mentioning the enchanting surroundings of the Chapelle des Chartreux and its sculptures by Carpeaux, Rodin and Bra. The collection also includes photos from the Augustin Boutique photo library and a relief map of the city of Douai in the 18th century, showing the layout of the fortified city in 1709…

To finish your visit in style, linger in the monastic gardens. The walk allows the whole family to discover the many medicinal plants used by the Carthusian monks, and bears witness to their long and privileged relationship with nature and its secrets.

For lovers of contemporary art, the cloister is home to Daniel Buren’s famous red hut with mirrors.

Open every day (except Tuesday), from 10am to 12pm and from 2pm to 6pm

Closed January 1, May 1, Ascension Day, July 14, August 15, November 1 and December 25.

Full price: 5 €
Reduced rate: 2,50 €*
Free **

Free for all on the first Sunday of the month

* persons receiving unemployment benefit on presentation of proof, students over 18 years of age excluding arts students, persons of the third age, museum friends outside Muse&Art on presentation of a membership card).

** Under the age of 18, arts students, Muse&Art members, teachers in preparation for visits, ICOM members, RSA recipients upon presentation of a credential, journalists holding a press card, guides-speakers of Historical Monuments, disabled persons with a disability card.

Buren, Museum of the Chartreuse, fine arts, sculpture, paintings, Douai, Northern France (c)ADLanglet

130 Rue des Chartreux, 59500 Douai.

Parking nearby: Parking of the university, parking of the cinema. Free.

Accessibility for persons with disabilities

Specificities according to disabilities:

Engine: Partially accessible
Hearing: no special device
Mental: absence of anxiogenic elements
Visual: The Musée de la Chartreuse has chosen to focus on architectural heritage in order to bring diversification to the “museum at its fingertips” network.
Indeed, the museum is installed in a convent of Chartreux, a vast building built from the 16th to the 18th century, which has preserved its original conventual buildings: cloister, chapel, refectory, chapter room.
This awareness is done by means of a tactile model composed of moving elements that allows to show to the visually impaired the distribution of the different rooms and the different epochs of construction. On the other hand, in the context of visits to workshops, a collection of selected works ranging from lapidary works from the Middle Ages to 19th century sculpture and furniture allow to place the creations in the context of the history of art. Orientation tables equipped with audio commentary, touch marks and explanations in Braille support the whole. This tactile route is accessible to individual visitors.

For further information, contact 03 27 71 38 80

Plan