Musée de Tessé, Art and archaeological museum in Le Mans, France
Musée de Tessé is an art and archaeological museum housed in a former bishop's palace built in 1848. It displays French, Italian, and Flemish paintings from the 14th to 20th century alongside reconstructed Egyptian tombs that showcase artifacts from ancient times.
The museum was established in 1799 and takes its name from the Tessé family who once owned the original residence on the site. The current building was later constructed as a bishop's palace, which transformed the property into an institutional space.
The Egyptian collection reveals daily life and burial practices through artifacts and objects from different time periods of ancient Egypt. Walking through this section, visitors encounter tools, vessels, and inscriptions that show how people worked and believed thousands of years ago.
The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday with a break at midday between visiting hours. Admission is free, and the location in Le Mans makes it easy to reach by public transportation or on foot.
The Roman Comic series was commissioned around 1720 by Marshal de Tessé for his Vernie Castle and represents a rare collection of 18th-century French tapestries. The works depict scenes from Roman history and showcase the technical skill of French weavers from that era.
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