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Origin and history

The Maisons Satie, located in Honfleur, Calvados, is the home of composer Erik Satie (1866-1925). These three red half-timbered houses, typical of Norman architecture of the 15th century, now house a museum dedicated to his life and work. The site is labeled Maisons des Illustres and its facades have been listed as historical monuments since 1992.

Erik Satie was born in one of these houses on 17 May 1866. After his mother's death, his father remarried with a piano teacher, who initiated Satie into music. He then went to Paris, where he attended the Conservatoire and avant-garde artistic circles, such as the cabaret Le Chat noir, alongside figures such as Debussy, Ravel or Picasso.

Inaugurated in 1998, the museum offers an immersive scenography combining personal objects, works of art, scores and sound installations. He celebrates the eccentric and poetic universe of Satie, with elements such as a mechanical piano playing his Gymnopedias, fetish umbrellas or collaborations with artists such as Picasso and Cocteau. The museum presents itself as a playful and artistic tribute, far from traditional codes.

Another space dedicated to Satie existed in Paris, the former Musée-Placard at 6 rue Cortot, today gone. The Satie Houses remain the main memorial of her Norman childhood, attracting lovers of music, art and architectural heritage.

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