Musée du Mont-de-Piété de Bergues, Art museum in Bergues, France
The Musée du Mont-de-Piété is housed in a rectangular brick building from the 17th century, decorated with stone trim, arched windows, and two ornamental gables. Inside, the galleries display artworks and drawings across multiple rooms, including a natural history collection.
The building was constructed between 1629 and 1633 following designs by architect Wenceslas Cobergher and originally served another purpose. It was converted into a museum in 1793 and officially designated as a historical monument in 1907.
The collection holds 2,000 drawings from northern European artists including Poussin, Le Brun, and Van Dyck. Among them is "The Hurdy-gurdy Player with Dog" by Georges de La Tour, a celebrated work of French Baroque painting.
The museum operates from May through October, Wednesday to Sunday. You can explore the collection in a few hours and should check in advance if special tours or temporary exhibitions are being held.
The second floor houses a natural science section featuring bird dioramas and an extensive collection of butterflies and beetles from various regions. This collection reveals often-overlooked aspects of regional biodiversity and historical collecting practices.
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