Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Musée Louis-Philippe du château d'Eu is housed in a building the construction of which began in 1578 under the impulse of Henri de Guise and Catherine de Clèves, before being completed in 1665 by the Grand Mademoiselle, cousin of Louis XIV. This castle became the summer residence of Louis-Philippe, king of the French (1830-1848), who twice received Queen Victoria in 1843 and 1845, thus marking the beginning of the cordial agreement between France and the United Kingdom. The estate remained the property of the Orléans family until the beginning of the 20th century, during which time it was thoroughly remodeled between 1872 and 1886 by architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc.

In 1902, a fire partially damaged the castle, which was later acquired in 1905 by the Brazilian imperial family, the princes of Orléans-Bragance. After several hand changes, the city of Eu became its owner in 1964. She established the town hall in 1973 and created the Louis-Philippe Museum, dedicated to the history of the castle and its occupants, notably through collections evoking the July monarchy, the cordial agreement, and ties with Brazil. The museum houses works of art, furniture, decorative objects and archives, including an 18th-century Portuguese sedan and portraits of the Guise family.

The castle has benefited from major restorations, including a historic renovation in 2017 thanks to deposits of the National Furniture, including 18th and 19th century pieces. The collections are enriched on a regular basis, thanks to donations such as that of Dr. Albert Court, which allowed the exhibition of objects from the Sèvres factory and Christofle goldsmith. The museum is supported by the Association des Amis du musée Louis-Philippe, founded in 1985 by Isabelle d'Orléans and Bragance, Countess of Paris, and then chaired by Gabriel de Broglie. Part of the estate remains private, belonging to the heirs of the family of Orléans-Bragance.

The castle of Eu is also a filming place, as in 2018 for the show Secrets d'Histoire dedicated to Louis-Philippe I. Its history reflects the links between France, the United Kingdom and Brazil, through various collections ranging from decorative arts to ethnology, military memories and scientific objects. The museum showcases this heritage through exhibitions and publications, such as those of Alban Duparc, curator since 2006.

Temporary exposure

Expositions temporaires - Saison 2022

Du 16 mars au 08 mai 2022 : Les 10 ans de la Donation Albert Court.
Du 20 mai au 04 septembre 2022 : Exposition sur les artistes-femmes.

Temporary animation

La Nuit des Musées : 14 mai 2022
Les Journées du Patrimoine : Les 17 et 18 septembre 2022

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