Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Maison Jean-Cocteau is an 18th-century Louis XIII-style residence located in Milly-la-Forêt en Essonne. This 2 hectare estate, labeled "Maisons des Illustres", includes gardens, an orchard and a wooded park. The property, a former dependence of the 13th century Henry IV Presbytery, is crossed by a stream from the moat of the nearby castle. The façade and roof were listed as historical monuments in 1969.

In 1947, Jean Cocteau bought this house, nicknamed "Maison du Bailli", with his friend Jean Marais. He built a workshop in the attic, where he worked at the pastel and designed tapestry boxes for Aubusson. He lived here for 17 years and wrote an important part of his work, far from the Parisian agitation. Cocteau died there in 1963 and was buried in the chapel of Saint-Blaise-des-Simples, which he had decorated.

When he died, Edward Dermit, his adopted companion and son, inherited the house and preserved his objects and works until 1995. His son, Stéphane Dermit, then became curator of the place. In 2002, Pierre Bergé bought the house with the help of local authorities and launched a 5-year renovation (2005-2010) for €5 million. The museum opened to the public in 2010, keeping the living room, bedroom and office of Cocteau intact, as well as a temporary exhibition room.

Today, the house-museum presents Cocteau's furniture, manuscripts, photographs and personal objects, as he left them. The estate, with its gardens and its history linked to the artist, attracts visitors for its authenticity and cultural heritage. The programming of temporary exhibitions varies according to season, enriching the visitor experience.

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