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Museum · Tournai, Hainaut
Musée des Beaux-Arts de Tournai
The only museum designed by Victor Horta, opened in 1928, with glass domes and rooms around a large sculpture hall. It houses the collection of Henri Van Cutsem, including the only two works by Manet on display in Belgium.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Musée des Beaux-Arts de Tournai
The Musée des Beaux-Arts de Tournai is the only museum designed by Victor Horta, the Belgian Art Nouveau architect, and his only building in Wallonia. The first drawings date from 1907, but construction was delayed by World War I, and the museum only opened in 1928.
The building marks the transition from Art Nouveau to a more geometric style, close to Art Deco. The painting rooms are arranged around a large central hall for sculptures, and Horta designed the plan so that a guard in the hall could see all the rooms. Glass domes bring natural light to the works.
The core of the collection is the collection of Brussels patron Henri Van Cutsem, with art from the 19th century and the early 20th century. It is there that the only two works by Édouard Manet on display in Belgium are located. The collection is completed with works by Belgian artists from the 19th and 20th centuries.
The museum is located in the Enclos Saint-Martin, on the high part of the center, near the park of the Hôtel de Ville. Temporary exhibitions occupy the hall and some rooms.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
From 1 hour to 1h30.
Best time
Open Tuesday to Sunday; closed on Mondays. On Sundays and public holidays it opens later. On sunny days, the light from the domes enhances the architecture. Check opening hours before you go.
How to get there
It's on rue de l'Enclos Saint-Martin, about a 5-minute walk from the Grand-Place and about 20 minutes from the Gare de Tournai.
Tip
Notice the architecture as much as the works: the central hall and the domes are by Horta. Check before you go whether Manet's paintings are on display.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Musée des Beaux-Arts de Tournai
Who designed the museum?
Victor Horta, the Belgian Art Nouveau architect. It is the only museum he designed and his only building in Wallonia.
Which are the best-known works?
The two canvases by Édouard Manet from Henri Van Cutsem's collection, the only works by the painter on display in Belgium. Check before you go whether both are on view.
What days is it open?
Open Tuesday through Sunday and on public holidays. Closed on Mondays. Confirm before you go.