The Museum | Valenciennes Tourism and Convention Bureau

What does the work involve? A building to be reinvented

The city of Valenciennes has taken great care of the museum in recent years: two phases of work have marked the museum’s history in recent years.

In 1995, the museum’s basement was refurbished to create a modern auditorium and a display area for the archaeological collections. In 2015, the interior fittings were overhauled: parquet flooring, paintwork, etc.

However, the building’s structure is facing natural ageing, which accelerated in 2021.
These difficulties provide an opportunity to rethink the museum building to meet today’s challenges. Energy renovation will be a crucial step for this energy-hungry building: the renovation of the glass roof will deliver substantial energy savings. Accessibility will also be at the heart of the new architectural project, with in particular a new elevator to rethink PRM accessibility and a pathway focused on the inclusion of all visitors. The work will also provide an opportunity to rethink the museum’s place in the city and in the lives of the people of Valenciennes, with the aim of making it a true place of life open to all.

The roof is undeniably the museum’s biggest project. The glass roofs, which account for 80% of the roof surface, will be completely replaced. The slate roofs will also be overhauled. The project will also significantly improve the building’s energy performance, enabling the city to pursue its commitment to energy savings through building insulation. The improved insulation will also make the air-conditioning system more reliable, particularly during extreme weather conditions.

Ensuring the proper conservation of works of art And restore the building's authenticity

Art collections are fragile assets that require a stable climate, with controlled temperature and humidity. The aim of this major renovation of the museum is not only to preserve the building, but also to ensure the proper conservation of the collections. Major restoration projects, past and future, will enable certain masterpieces to be rediscovered in a new light. Two major works by Pierre-Paul Rubens, The Triumph of the Eucharist and Elijah and the Angel, will be put on a scroll, as they had to be relocated during the renovation work, providing the opportunity for fundamental restoration and in-depth study. At the same time, the renovation is an opportunity to rediscover in the storerooms works of great quality that have not been shown much until now, some of which will also be restored. The overall health study carried out on the paintings and sculptures, and the design of a new visitor itinerary, will enable us to rethink the way in which we showcase the treasures of the Musée de Valenciennes, magnified by a reinvented scenography.

The building diagnosis identified a number of interventions which, over time, have partially altered the architect’s original intention. Thanks to a historical study carried out in various archives, these missing decorative elements have been identified. Their restoration will enable the building to regain its architectural integrity.

Did you know?

The Musée des Beaux-Arts called on Anna Duvauchelle, landscape artist and illustrator from the Lille-based Powa architecture studio, to tell the story of the work in comic form. An attentive observer of the teams’ behind-the-scenes activities, Anna Duvauchelle has cast her eye over the different stages of the works and created a comic mediation of the museum’s renewal.

The exhibition Le chantier en BD: une aventure dessinée par Anna Duvauchelle is on view every day! Place Verte in Valenciennes, opposite the kiosk

The building protected as a historic monument

nbelievable but true: the Musée building, a fine arts palace typical of the Third Republic,

Incredible but true: the Musée building, a typical fine arts palace of the Third Republic, was not protected as a historical monument! Now it’s a done deal: a visit to the Commission Régionale du Patrimoine et de l’Architecture has given the go-ahead for part of the building to be listed as a historic monument. This means that the facades, roofs and central body of the Museum are now protected.

This protection, which implies scientific and technical control by the State over the modifications made to the building, in particular the current renovation, also makes it possible to contribute to the financing of the work.

It also recognizes the architectural quality of the building designed by architect Paul Dusart: the system of double-glazed windows inside and out, the many ornaments on the façade, the two monumental staircases and the dome painted by Lucien Jonas are all preserved for the future.

The events

Les Causeries

Free – Open to all

Les Causeries are a series of talks and meetings about museums in all their aspects. They are given by mediators from the Musée des Beaux-Arts.

Apéros-Travaux

📍 At Valenciennes Tourisme & Congrès (12 place Verte, Valenciennes)

Free – Reservations required (musee@valenciennes-metropole.fr)

The Musée des Beaux-Arts de Valenciennes invites you to its Apéros-Travaux: the new cultural rendezvous for free discussion around the renovation and its various stages.

Program :

Auberge du Bon Fermier