Montargis

Musée Girodet

The « new » Musée Girodet reopened in 2019 after a major six-year renovation project. The museum is housed in the Hôtel Durzy and displays works by the local artist, a pupil of David and winner of the Grand Prix de Rome in 1789. On the outside of the building a glass gallery brings a contemporary touch to the imposing 19th century sculpted facade. The exhibition area has been doubled in size by the addition of a new temporary exhibition space. Another new feature is a library of more than 8,000 books and space for workshops. The overhead lighting and interior layout are directly inspired by the ‘Grande Galerie de Peinture’ at the Louvre.

The highlight of the visit is a group of three family portraits of Docteur Trioson, the guardian then adoptive father of the artist, the wonderful Geography Lesson (1803), the Portrait of Benoît-Agnès Trioson (1798) and Docteur Trioson wearing a white frock coat (circa 1802). The collection also traces the artist’s career, from his beginnings in the studio of David (La mort de Camille, 1785) to more mature works, some of them precursors of Romanticism (Portrait de Mustapha, 1819). The visit is completed with works by pupils of Girodet : François-Louis Dejuinne, Joseph-Ferdinand Lancrenon, and a collection of French, Italian, Scandinavian and Spanish paintings from the 13th century to the present day. There are also some excellent works by the ‘Sculptor of Princes’, Henry de Triqueti, born at Conflans-sur-Loing near Montargis (1803-1874).

Chinese Revolutionaries in Montargis !

Discover the story of these revolutionaries from information boards as you walk around the town following the ‘Circuit Chinois’. These students, who came from China at the beginning of the 20th century, later led the revolution in their country before becoming its leaders. You can see where the young idealists used to meet in the Parc Durzy led by Cai Hesen and his partner Xiang Jinyu, to discuss their programme to ""save China and the world"". The memory of this time spent in Loiret is preciously remembered in China as Montargis is celebrated in the official history of the country as the cradle of the new China.

If you feel like a boat trip, take a cruise along the Canal de Briare et du Loing aboard « Le Ville de Châlette ».