Musée de l'Hôtel-Dieu

Built in the 14th century, the Hôtel-Dieu in Mantes-la-Jolie became town property and was made into a museum in 1996. The building – which is listed as one of France’s Historic Monuments – is now home to an exceptional collection of Medieval and Post-Impressionist art. With a brand-new layout and route through the galleries, the ground floor is filled with sculptures from the gorgeous Gothic cathedral next door, the Notre Dame Collegiate Church. They tell of the Medieval past of the commune, which had its old town bombed during the Second World War.

The largest Maximilien Luce collection in the world

Heading upstairs, the first floor is home to many of the works gifted to the town by Post-Impressionist artist Maximilien Luce, and is the largest collection of the painter’s artwork in the world. Here you can learn more about his involvement in politics and society and the Le Montois landscapes that he particularly loved to paint, as well as how he sought to distance himself from the established artistic conventions of the time.

Last but not least, you can round off your exploration of this charming town’s history with a tour of the museum’s temporary exhibitions.

Even more museums and cultural sites to discover in Paris Region.