Palais des Beaux Arts de Lille

The Palais des Beaux Arts de Lille, founded in 1792 is one of the very first art galleries in France and placed within an exceptional building.

The museum is worth a visit even just for seeing the architecture of the building out of the 19th century. Nevertheless, the art inside the building is definitely worth seeing as well. You will find imposing pieces of art from the 12th to the 20th century here.

Exhibition

The museum includes their own library and extra halls for rotating exhibitions. This was possible due to an addition to the building added in 1997, a construction made from glass just across the Palais, where you'll see its reflection. The museum offers room for art on over 22000 square meters, making it the second biggest art gallery in France just behind the Louvre in Paris. In the Palais des Beaux Arts de Lille visitors will find works from Rodin, Rubens, de Goya and many more artists.

Originally the Palais museum and fourteen others spread all over France demonstrated works gathered from the victories of the French Army, a practice started in the time of Napoleon.

You can reach the museum in many ways. Take the metro line 1 to the République Beaux Arts station or the bus line 74 to Réseau Transpole. Furthermore, you can park directly by the Place de la République, or simply walk 15 minutes from the Gares de Lille to the museum.