Compiègne municipal museums

▪▪▪ Antoine Vivenel Museum

This museum of fine arts and archaeology was created thanks to the generosity of a local patron, Antoine Vivenel (1799-1862), who assembled an important collection reflecting his taste for Antiquity and the Renaissance. In 1839, he donated his entire collection to his hometown and spared no expense in creating a model institution, the Musée des Études, which houses more than 4,000 works of art, a gallery of plaster casts, and a free art school.
Housed since 1952 in the mansion bequeathed by Count René Personne de Songeons, the museum has been enriched by various donations and the fruits of local archaeological excavations. Spanning from prehistory to the 19th century, its collections bear witness to the richness of European and non-European cultures.

▪▪▪ Saint-Corneille Cloister Museum

From the collections of the Antoine Vivenel Museum, a superb collection of religious sculptures from the Middle Ages and Renaissance has been on display since 2012 in the renovated cloister of this former abbey.

▪▪▪ Figurine Museum

The important collections of figurines belonging to Alfred Ternisien and Arthur de Marsy, bequeathed to the City of Compiègne between 1901 and 1927, as well as the immense diorama of the Battle of Waterloo created by Charles Laurent, encouraged the creation of a museum of historical figurines in 1949.
Transferred to the former Hôtel de la Cloche, the museum reopened in 1984 as the first museum of its kind dedicated to historical figurines. It has a collection of nearly 155,000 pieces, 45,000 of which are on display, offering a broad overview of the history of France and Europe.

Find all the latest museum news on: www.musees-compiegne.fr

and on the facebook page Les musées de compiègne

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Museum news

▪▪▪ Reopening of the Figurine Museum

Closed since May 2024, the Figurine Museum is currently undergoing renovation. Reopening on 23 May 2026.

Located in the heart of the regenerated École d’état-major district, the museum is housed in the historic building of the former officers’ mess.

Panic at the museum.

Cowboy, Indian and Horse are preparing for the reopening of the Compiègne Figurine Museum.

Discover figurines as you’ve never seen them before, in a reimagined world that gives free rein to the imagination. A unique visitor experience open to all, to be enjoyed with the family. Mark your calendars!

Saturday 23 May 2026, from 8pm to midnight, as part of Museum Night, and on Sunday from 10am to 1pm and from 2pm to 6pm.

Free entry until 16 August 2026

Address: 1 Place d’Orléans - 60200 Compiègne

▪▪▪ Historical immersion site

The Antoine Vivenel Museum reopened to the public on Saturday 13 May 2023 at 8 pm as part of European Museum Night.
This provided an opportunity to discover the renovation of its entrance area (access is now via Songeons Park) as well as the creation of the multimedia space on the history of Compiègne (Historical Immersion Site or SIH).

This area offers visitors an account of the history of Compiègne and its region, through an introductory film and virtual visits to major sites via interactive stations. This is a self-guided experience to be enjoyed in the museum before exploring the region, thanks to the "exploration booklet" included with the admission ticket.

Prices :
SIH only: €4 / €3 concessions (free for children under 6)
SIH Pass musées: €7 / €5 concessions (free for children under 6)
Information: 03.44.20.26.04

■ Exhibitions

▪▪▪ On the move with Joujoulac

Focus on rolling toys made of lacquered wood in the Compiègne region.

Exhibition closed, no new exhibition for the moment.

From the beginning of the 20th century until 1969, these locomotion toys were manufactured at the Lacroix-Saint-Ouen factory. Carefully lacquered wooden trucks, tractors, buses and boats made the brand famous. In 1956, the Toy Oscar even went to the wooden reproduction of the famous Citroën DS 19, a famous car model that celebrates its 70th anniversary this year. A testament to the industrial history of the Compiègne region.

Exhibition on the permanent tour of the Musée Antoine Vivenel
2 rue d'Austerlitz (entrance via Songeons Park), 60200 Compiègne

■ Activities at the museum

European Museum Night 2026

At the Figurine Museum

1 Place d'Orléans
60200 Compiègne

▪▪▪ From 8pm to midnight: free entry – Self-guided tour of the collections

▪▪▪ Live performances within the collections, in collaboration with Le Théâtre à Moustaches.

Performances: at 8.30 pm, 9.15 pm, 10 pm, 10.45 pm and 11.30 pm

Free entry, subject to availability

At the Antoine Vivenel Museum

2 Rue Austerlitz (Songeons Park entrance)
60200 Compiègne

▪▪▪ From 8pm to midnight: free entry – Self-guided tour of the collections

▪▪▪ A stroll through Compiègne

Focus on the history of Compiègne and its surrounding area through a tour of the museum’s collections.
A guide is on hand to assist you during the Night.

▪▪▪ Compiègne of Tomorrow

Imagine and build the city of the future using wooden architectural elements.

A hands-on workshop running continuously throughout the Night.

▪▪▪ Historical Immersion Site (SIH) “Discover Compiègne!”

This space traces the history of Compiègne and its region through a range of multimedia displays.

Sessions at 8pm, 9pm, 10pm and 11pm. Session duration: 50 minutes

Booking required: 03 44 20 26 04 (limited number of places per session).
Tickets for the session must be collected from the museum reception.

At the lapidary gallery of the Saint-Corneille cloister

9 Rue Saint-Corneille
60200 Compiègne

▪▪▪ From 8pm to midnight: free entry – Self-guided tour of the collections

Download the European Museum Night programme

Museum Night programme

■ Sunday at the museum

Admission to museums in the city of Compiègne is free on the first Sunday of every month.

▪▪▪ Sunday 24 May 2026 from 10am to 1pm and from 2pm to 6pm

Self-guided tour of the new Figurine Museum

Guided tour of the new Figurine Museum

Free entry.

Live demonstrations within the collections, in collaboration with Le Théâtre à Moustaches.

Sessions: 2.30 pm, 3.15 pm, 4 pm, 4.45 pm and 5.30 pm

Free entry, subject to availability. Figurine Museum, 1 Place d’Orléans

Figurine Museum
1 Place d'Orléans
60200 Compiègne

▪▪▪ Sunday 7 June 2026 at 3.00 pm and 4.30 pm

A reinvented museum

Guided tour of the new Figurine Museum

Free admission to the museum and guided tours.

Booking required: 03.44.20.26.04

Figurine Museum
1 Place d'Orléans
60200 Compiègne

Practical information

● Musée Antoine Vivenel
2 bis, rue d'Austerlitz
60200 Compiègne

● Musée du Cloître Saint-Corneille
9 rue Saint-Corneille
60200 Compiègne

● Figurine Museum
1 Place d'Orléans
60200 Compiègne
Reopening on 23 May 2026

● Centre Antoine Vivenel
17 rue James de Rothschild
60200 Compiègne

For these four sites,
a single telephone number:
03 44 20 26 04
https://www.musees-compiegne.fr

The museums are closed on Mondays, January 1, May 1, July 14, November 1 and December 25.

The museums are open
tuesday, Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 6pm;
wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 2pm to 6pm.

Admission:
▪▪▪ Full rate: €4
▪▪▪ Reduced rate: €3
▪▪▪ Free for under-26s, association members and the first Sunday of the month.
One-way ticket giving access to the Antoine Vivenel, Saint-Corneille Cloister and Historic Figurine museums.

Details on the Compiègne municipal museums website:
https://www.musees-compiegne.fr/information-pratique/horaires-acces-tarifs/

Updated on 10 May 2026

Association of Friends of the Museums
Antoine Vivenel et de la Figurine

AMAVFH 2010-2026

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