Anyone traveling to the serene town of Toulouse, France should - without a doubt - make a trip to the fabulous Fondation Bemberg. Situated in the Hotel d'Assezatan - an elegant 14th-century Renaissance mansion - this museum is one of the city’s hidden jewels that could easily be considered the most exquisite art collection in Toulouse. Argentinian collector Georges Bemberg formed Fondation Bemberg from his private collection of artwork and the establishment houses no less than five centuries of incomparable European art that showcases rich Renaissance and intriguing Impressionist masterpieces. This art gallery is a true compliment to Toulouse’s charming landscape. For you to enjoy everything this tourist attraction has to offer we’ve assembled a guide to Fondation Bemberg, Toulouse.
Things to do / Highlights
The Elders section
The moment you step through the entrance of this delightful museum begin your tour by gazing up and studying the nicely preserved and beautiful 16th-century ceiling.
The entire first floor of Fondation Bemberg is a dazzling display of visual excellence. Labeled The Elders collection, visitors can step back in time when you make your way through the divine Renaissance and 16th-century-style rooms. This floor of the museum conjures up an atmosphere of total refinement with mesmerizing interiors of different periods enhanced by bygone-era furnishings, beautiful paintings, captivating sculptures, and stunning art objects.
The Moderns section
The second floor - The Moderns - is where the modern-art masters and their contemporary paintings take over. Awash in this section are marvelous exhibits from artists like Guardi, Veronese, Titian, and Fantin-Latour. Don’t make the mistake of missing the Pointillist Room where a lovely assemblage of Edouard Vuillard paintings is found. Venetians take center stage with amazing works by Canaletto. Latter-century French artists such as famed heavyweights like Claude Monet, Henri Matisse, and Paul Cezanne are also on display.
Bonnard collection
It is crucial not to overlook the fine selection of works by post-impressionist Pierre Bonnard located on the second floor. To get a feel for the compelling post-Impressionist work check out a unique and impressive set of 30 glorious paintings by the artist. The painter’s mastery of highly stylized decorative qualities and bold use of vibrant color will make you want to stare at his art for hours.
Giant chessboard
Make a special point to step outside and head to the breezy courtyard space. Check out the spectacular life-sized chessboard and play a game or two with the kids who are sure to have fun with this fanciful, hands-on museum feature.
Things to buy
Catalogue de l'exposition "De Poussin à Cézanne, chefs-d'oeuvre du dessin français dans la collection Prat" en vente la boutique de la Fondation Bemberg - 29 €
Posted by Fondation Bemberg - officiel on Monday, 26 June 2017
One of the best features of visiting a tourist attraction is shopping for lovely mementos of your visit. No vacation is complete without luggage full of top-notch souvenirs. At Fondation Bemberg’s boutique, there’s a wide selection of fanciful cutting and mounting cards, colorful posters and postcards reflective of the fine artwork from the museum.
Informative exhibition catalogs, handsome collector’s books, and fun children’s books can also be uncovered. Take time to at least browse through the wonderful exhibition catalogs on display such as “From Poussin to Cezanne, Masterpieces of French Drawing in the Prat Collection”.
How to get there
Rent a car
if you want to rent a vehicle and drive to Fondation Bemberg, the museum is located at Place d'Assezat 31000 Toulouse, France in the Hotel d'Assezat.
Bus
Toulouse offers an extensive and orderly bus system. You can catch Line 2, 2S, 10, 10S, 12, 12S, 14, 38, or 38S to reach Fondation Bemberg.
Metro Toulouse
This city also provides a fast, efficient, and expansive metro system. To get to the museum hop on Line A and depart at the Esquirol station or Line B at the Les Carmes station.
Taxi
Hail a taxi off the street or arrange for a pick up to enjoy quick and handy transport to this attraction.
Uber
Tap the Uber app for a convenient and affordable way to the museum.
Bike
If you want to be adventuresome and get some healthy exercise why not take advantage of Toulouse’s bike hire called VeloToulouse. Head to 15 Place Etienne Esquirol or 52 Rue des Couteliers for an eco-friendly way to get to your intended destination.
Parking
Vinci Park offers sufficient parking garages. There are two locales: 14 Place Esquirol, 31000 Toulouse, France with a distance of 0.93 miles (1.5 kilometers) from the museum and 1 Place des Carmes 31000 Toulouse, France at 0.68 miles (1.1 kilometers) away from the museum.
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How to book tickets
The official website, unfortunately, does not offer an online ticket-buying service so tourists wanting to explore Fondation Bemberg must buy tickets on site at the museum entrance or you can obtain tickets online via a third-party website.
An entry ticket is valid all day although many visitors only need about one and one-half hours to see everything. Be aware the museum ticket office closes at 5:25pm and visitors will be asked to exit the building 5 minutes before the official closing time of 6pm.
Fondation Bemberg information
Address: Hotel d'Assezat, Place d'Assezat 31000 Toulouse, France
Opening hours: Tue - Wed, Fri - Sun: 10am - 12:30pm, 1:30pm - 6pm; Thu: 10am - 12:30pm, 1:30pm - 8:30pm (closed on Mon)
Cost: 9 USD
Official website: Fondation Bemberg
Department of tourism: Visit France
History
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