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Origin and history

The Goya Museum is a Hispanic art museum located in Castres, in the Tarn department in the Occitan region. It is housed in the former Episcopal Palace, built in 1675 by Jules Hardouin-Mansart, architect of Versailles, and surrounded by gardens designed by André Le Nôtre. This museum was born in 1840 in the form of a natural history cabinet, enriched by donations of paintings and scientific objects. At the end of the 19th century, painter and collector Marcel Briguiboul left to the city of Castres major works of Goya, permanently transforming his artistic orientation.

In 1947, under the leadership of Gaston Poulain, the museum was renamed the Goya Museum and specialized in Spanish art. The collections are enriched by deposits from the Louvre, acquisitions and partnerships with institutions such as the Casa de Velázquez. The palace, renovated between 2020 and 2023, reopens with 23 rooms and 5,000 works, including three major paintings by Goya: Self-portrait with glasses, The Junte of the Philippines and Portrait of Francisco del Mazo.

The museum also houses various collections: paintings from the Spanish Golden Century (Vélasquez, Murillo, Zurbarán), Goya engravings, decorative arts, and contemporary works. It offers temporary exhibitions, a teaching workshop and a specialized library. Since 2023, it has attracted more than 50,000 visitors annually, confirming its visibility as the first French institution dedicated to Hispanic art.

The Episcopal Palace, a 17th century architectural masterpiece, is also remarkable for its French-style gardens and historic halls, such as the room of diocesan states, decorated with friezes and antique furniture. The museum works with local patrons, such as Les Laboratoires Pierre Fabre, and associations such as Les Amis des Musées de Castres, to enrich its collections and cultural activities.

The temporary exhibitions showcase Spanish and Latin American artists, from the Middle Ages to contemporary art, with partnerships with the Louvre Museum, the Musée d'Orsay and regional institutions. The Goya Museum is also a research place, thanks to its library Jeannine-Baticle, and an accessible space, labeled Tourism and Handicap.

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