Musée des Beaux-Arts de Rouen

Museum Fine arts museum with extensive European painting collection

Rouen’s Musée des Beaux‑Arts houses paintings and sculptures from the 15th century onward, including Impressionist and Baroque works; visitors browse period rooms and temporary exhibitions.

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Musée des Beaux-Arts de Rouen is a major regional art museum in Rouen, Normandy, with collections spanning from the Renaissance to the 20th century. It displays European paintings, sculpture and decorative arts in a civic museum setting.

Paintings from French and European schools across several centuries, organized in chronological and thematic galleries for public viewing. The museum frequently hosts temporary exhibitions and educational programmes.

The museum developed from municipal collections assembled over the 19th and 20th centuries and continues to serve as Rouen’s principal fine arts institution.

It is located in the center of Rouen, within the urban fabric of the city and accessible from the historic quarters and transport links.

  • Collection range: The museum's holdings cover European painting, sculpture and decorative arts from the 15th century to the modern period, with notable works by local and national artists.
Musée des Beaux-Arts de Rouen
Esplanade Marcel Duchamp, 76000 Rouen, France
49.4447, 1.0947
Tue-Sun 10am-6pm, closed Mondays

How to Get to Musée des Beaux-Arts de Rouen #

The Musée des Beaux‑Arts de Rouen is in central Rouen. From Rouen‑Rive‑Droite train station it is an easy walk through the city center (around 15-20 minutes) or a short local bus or taxi ride. Rouen is served from Paris by regular SNCF trains and by the A13 motorway (Paris-Rouen), making it straightforward to reach by rail or car.

Tips for Visiting Musée des Beaux-Arts de Rouen #

  • Visit on a weekday morning or late afternoon to avoid school groups and coach tours that often arrive mid-day, giving you quieter access to the major galleries.
  • Check the museum's website in advance for large temporary exhibitions-these frequently require advance or timed tickets and can affect visitor flow through the permanent collections.
  • On arrival, pick up a museum map and decide which periods or artists you most want to see; the collection is broad and the galleries are spread out, so a focused plan avoids backtracking.

Best Time to Visit Musée des Beaux-Arts de Rouen #

Visit on weekday mornings or in the spring/shoulder months to enjoy the collection with fewer crowds.

Low season (quiet)
November-February · ~2-8°C (36-46°F)
Fewer visitors in the museum-good for quieter viewing, though the city is cooler and some sites may have reduced hours.
Spring (pleasant)
April-June · ~8-18°C (46-64°F)
Milder weather and moderate visitor levels; weekdays and early mornings are the calmest times to go.
Summer (busiest)
July-August · ~15-25°C (59-77°F)
Higher tourist numbers, especially on weekends; expect more crowded galleries and longer waits at popular displays.

Weather & Climate near Musée des Beaux-Arts de Rouen #

Climate

Musée des Beaux-Arts de Rouen's climate is classified as Oceanic - Oceanic climate with mild summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 2°C to 23°C. Moderate rainfall (709 mm/year), distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.

Air Quality: AQI 42 Good
Best Time to Visit
JulyAugustJune
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
36°
Warmest Month
-11°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions

January

January is the coolest month with highs of 7°C and lows of 2°C. Moderate rainfall (63 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

46 Poor

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
93%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

63 mm
Rainfall
4.4 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.1
UV Index
Low
8.5h daylight

February

February is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of 2°C. Moderate rainfall (54 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

48 Poor

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
89%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

54 mm
Rainfall
4.2 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.2
UV Index
Low
9.9h daylight

March

March is cold with highs of 11°C and lows of 4°C. Moderate rainfall (52 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

56 Acceptable

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
11°
85%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

52 mm
Rainfall
4.4 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.4
UV Index
Low
11.7h daylight

April

April is cold with highs of 14°C and lows of 5°C. Moderate rainfall (47 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

62 Good

Comfort

10°
Feels Like Cold
10°C
Temperature
14°
81%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

47 mm
Rainfall
4.2 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.8
UV Index
Moderate
13.6h daylight

May

May is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 9°C. Moderate rainfall (60 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

64 Good

Comfort

13°
Feels Like Cool
13°C
Temperature
18°
80%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

60 mm
Rainfall
3.9 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
1.2
UV Index
High
15.2h daylight

June

June is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 12°C. Moderate rainfall (57 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

72 Very Good

Comfort

16°
Feels Like Cool
16°C
Temperature
12° 21°
80%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

57 mm
Rainfall
3.7 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
1.5
UV Index
High
16.0h daylight

July

July is the warmest month with highs of 23°C and lows of 14°C. Moderate rainfall (49 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

80 Excellent

Comfort

18°
Feels Like Mild
18°C
Temperature
14° 23°
78%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

49 mm
Rainfall
3.6 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
1.4
UV Index
High
15.6h daylight

August

August is the warmest month with highs of 23°C and lows of 14°C. Moderate rainfall (47 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

80 Excellent

Comfort

18°
Feels Like Mild
18°C
Temperature
14° 23°
79%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

47 mm
Rainfall
3.4 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
1.2
UV Index
High
14.2h daylight

September

September is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 11°C. Moderate rainfall (64 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

70 Very Good

Comfort

16°
Feels Like Cool
16°C
Temperature
11° 20°
81%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

64 mm
Rainfall
3.5 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.8
UV Index
Moderate
12.4h daylight

October

October is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 8°C. Moderate rainfall (69 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

64 Good

Comfort

12°
Feels Like Cool
12°C
Temperature
16°
87%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

69 mm
Rainfall
3.7 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.4
UV Index
Low
10.6h daylight

November

November is cold with highs of 11°C and lows of 5°C. Moderate rainfall (73 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

54 Acceptable

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
11°
92%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

73 mm
Rainfall
3.9 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.1
UV Index
Low
8.9h daylight

December

December is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of 3°C. The wettest month with 74 mm of rain and mostly overcast skies.

46 Poor

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
93%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

74 mm
Rainfall
4.2 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.1
UV Index
Low
8.0h daylight

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