Birth house of Jean-François Millet, Birth house and museum in Gruchy, La Hague, France
The birth house of Jean-François Millet is a stone farmhouse in Gruchy, a small village on the La Hague peninsula in Normandy. The building retains thick granite walls and a traditional Norman roof, while the rooms inside display 19th-century furniture and household objects.
Millet was born in this house in 1815 and grew up in a farming family before pursuing a career in art. His formative years in this rural setting shaped his artistic vision and made him a leading painter of peasant life.
The house holds the Maisons des Illustres designation, a French recognition for residences of important historical figures. Inside, visitors can explore the modest rooms where the artist spent his childhood surrounded by rural life.
The museum is reachable via the D901 road north of Cherbourg, with signage leading to Gruchy on the La Hague peninsula. A car is recommended for visiting, as public transportation is limited in this rural area.
The landscape around the house with granite cliffs and fields directly mirrors the scenes the artist later depicted in his most famous paintings. This visual connection lets visitors experience the sources of inspiration for his works.
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