François Rude Museum (Musée François Rude)
A full-size cast of the Marseillaise from the Arc de Triomphe, inside a former Dijon church.
- Museum
- 44 min from Beaune
- Allow 30 minutes
- UNESCO World Heritage
€120one way from Beaune with a private driver
At a glance
- Where
- Dijon · Côte-d'Or
- Official website
- musees.dijon.fr
Getting there
Private driver from Beaune: 44 min by road (48 km), €120 one way for the whole car.
Or add it to our full-day wine tour, €560.
Coming by train or plane? Transfers from stations and airports →
About the place
The Musée François Rude shows plaster casts of works by the Dijon-born sculptor François Rude, a master of French Romantic sculpture. It fills the transept of the former church of Saint-Étienne. The star is the huge cast of the Departure of the Volunteers of 1792, better known as La Marseillaise, from the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
What you will see
The single space is striking. The great relief of La Marseillaise rises against the old church walls, close enough to study the winged figure above the marching volunteers. Around it stand casts of Rude's other works, including Mercury fastening his sandal, the tomb effigy of Cavaignac, Joan of Arc listening to her voices and Marshal Ney. It is a quick, rewarding stop between other visits.
History
Saint-Étienne was an important city abbey until the Revolution. The church was closed in 1792 and turned into a grain market, then served many other uses. In 1896 the commodities exchange, later the Chamber of Commerce, moved into the nave, while the transept stored theatre sets. After the Second World War that transept was chosen to house a museum devoted to Rude. The old church has been listed as a historic monument since 1862.
François Rude was born in Dijon in 1784 and died in Paris in 1855. Between 1887 and 1910 the Dijon museum commissioned about forty casts of his works held elsewhere. In 1947 the state sent the cast of the Departure of the Volunteers. The museum opened as an annex of the Fine Arts Museum, which holds original works by Rude, and today shows 19 casts.
Planning your visit
Tips for your visit
Entry is free. The museum is closed on Tuesdays. It is on one level and accessible, but it is not heated and has no toilets. It is a short walk from the Fine Arts Museum, so the two combine well. Check the official website for opening times.
Around here
What to combine with François Rude Museum on the same day, nearest first.
Dijon
1 km awayMarsannay-la-Côte
7 km awayFixin
10 km away
- Christmas
Les Fééries de Noël de Dijon
Usually from the last Saturday of November to the first Sunday of JanuaryDijon - Tradition
Fête de la Pressée
Usually the third weekend of September, during the European Heritage DaysChenôve
Questions
François Rude Museum is about 44 min from Beaune by road (48 km). With a private driver, the trip from Beaune starts at €120 for the whole car, up to 4 guests.
Did you know? Rude's Departure of the Volunteers on the Arc de Triomphe is so closely linked to the national anthem that it is usually called La Marseillaise. Dijon's cast was sent by the state in 1947.
Sources
François Rude Museum with a private driver
€120 one way from Beaune · up to 4 guests