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Museum · Dinant, Namur
Adolphe Sax House
Interpretation centre on the street where Adolphe Sax, inventor of the saxophone, was born. It tells the life of the musician and instrument maker, with free admission and a statue of Sax seated on a bench on the pavement.
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 Adolphe Sax House
Adolphe Sax was born in Dinant in 1814, son of Charles-Joseph Sax, also an instrument maker. While still young he moved with his family to Bruxelas and then to Paris, where he opened his workshop. In 1846 he patented the saxophone, conceived as an entire family of instruments from soprano to baritone. He died in Paris in 1894.
The Maison de Monsieur Sax is on the street that bears his name, on the site of the house where he was born. It is a small interpretation centre with panels, objects and sounds that tell of his inventions, the legal patent disputes and the saxophone's link to jazz.
On the pavement a bronze statue shows Sax seated on a bench with the instrument beside him, and it has become a photo spot. Around the city, the Charles de Gaulle bridge has giant colorful saxophones, each decorated with a country's flag, and there are other tributes to the inventor scattered through the centre.
Besides the saxophone, Sax created the saxhorns and improved the clarone. Dinant organises an international saxophone competition that bears the inventor's name.
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
About twenty minutes.
Best time
At any time, since the space is open every day and without reservation. In the morning the pavement has fewer people for the photo with the statue.
How to get there
It is on Rue Adolphe Sax, on the right bank of the Meuse, south of the collegiate church. From Dinant train station it's about a seven-minute walk, crossing the Charles de Gaulle bridge.
Tip
Admission is free. The visit is short and pairs well with the collegiate church and the boat boarding, which are nearby.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Adolphe Sax House
Was Adolphe Sax born in Dinant?
Yes. He was born in Dinant in 1814 and patented the saxophone in Paris in 1846.
Do you need to book to visit the Maison de Monsieur Sax?
No. Entrance is free, no reservation, and the site is open every day. On public holidays, it is advisable to confirm beforehand.