BARBIZON

BARBIZON, VILLAGE OF PAINTERS
To the verge of the Forest of Fontainebleau, the visitor discovers the village of Barbizon, famous in the whole world for being a cradle of landscapist painting. It is in first half of the XIXth century that painters discover this hamlet: a simple street bordered of houses of loggers connecting the Bière plain and the forest of Fontainebleau. These artists, disappointed by the teaching of the School of fine Arts, decide to go "to surprise nature at its home". Thus is born the School of Barbizon (1830 to 1875) which will open the way to the Impressionists. Since this time marked by Millet, Theodore Rousseau, Corot.. Barbizon knew to preserve its vocation of "village of the painters" and continued to inspire many artists.

THE 100 YEARS OF THE VILLAGE
the YEAR 2003 marks the centenary of the creation of the commune of Barbizon, officially separated from the commune of Bière Chailly of which it was hitherto a hamlet. The The affluence of visitors, a cosmopolitan society of artists, painters, writers and musicians, arriving at the village, will transform the hamlet making inescapable this administrative separation. Throughout the year,there are exhibitions of paintings and photos, as well as many animations that will rhythmize this birthday (see calendar of animations).

MUSEUM OF THE SCHOOL OF BARBIZON: THE GANNE INN
AT BARBIZON, the painters found their " promised land" but also an inn which quickly becomes their place of meeting and sometimes of work... the Ganne Father, tailor, and his wife, grocer, open the doors of their modest inn to these young painters. It is here that great discussions will be held on art but also memorable festivals. Quickly, the artists invest this cordial place where they find lodging at a low price.
Narcisse Diaz of Pena, Theodore Rousseau, Camille Corot, but also a multitude of more or less famous painters today, marked their passage with the brush on the walls and the pieces of furniture of the Ganne spouse.
After a meticulous restoration campaign, the Ganne inn became the municipal museum of the School of Barbizon and welcomes the visitors all the year.
Before beginning the visit, audio-visual allows all, children and adults, to understand how was born this movement of landscapist painting r which preceded the impressionism and why the artists chose Barbizon and its inn to live and work. One discovers in addition, the mad atmoshere which reigned then in these places. At the first floor of the building, the grocery store of Mrs Ganne, the dining room of the officers and that of the painters, make it possible to discover many pieces of furniture and panels that are painted by the artists in the rainy days.
On the floor, the rooms also have preserved traces of the passage of the painters on their walls. A small painting gallery illustrates the dear topics at the School of Barbizon: the village of Barbizon through the seasons, the forest of Fontainebleau at various hours of the day and the animalist painting which impassioned in particular two great painters: Charles Jacques and Chaigneau, as well as a collection of sketch and the pallets of some artists. Municipal museum of the School of Barbizon (closed Tuesday).

WORKSHOP-HOUSE OF JEAN-FRANÇOIS MILLET
LANGELUS is certainly one of the most famous paintings in the world. It is here in the Bière plain, in Barbizon, that Millet painted, inter alia, this famous canvas. He found his inspiration in the landscapes of Barbizon and its surroundings and settled with his family in a house of the village. Today, one can visit his workshop and a part of his house.

TO VISIT
Discovery guide
To discover Barbizon in family, the " discovery guide " is put to the access of young people! Mini historical guide, practical guides, animations and book of plays for a new ludic glance related to the richnesses of the inheritance. This booklet gathers the towns of Barbizon, Fontainebleau, Meaux, Melun-Vaux the Viscount, Moret sur Loing and Provins. It is available for free in the Offices of Tourism of the cities concerned or on request at the House of Tourism on the 01 60 39 60 39.
Bohemian day
To plunge in a one day time in the atmoshere of the life of artist, book your "Bohemian Day" at the Office of Tourism, with the free visit of the municipal museum of the School of Barbizon, a basket picnic to lunch in forest and an introductory course to painting with a painter from barbizon (material provided and you will set out again with your canvas).
Mondays and Saturdays all the year. Price: adults:31€,
children of less than 13 years: 23€

Discovery around Barbizon
ECOMUSEUM IN ACHERES-LA-FORET
MR AND MRS NORET have gathered for more than 5 years treasures on the topic of the the rural tool and accessory. They decided to open gracefully the doors of their residence in order to make discover these objects dating back to the end of XIXth and the beginning of the XXth century to all impassioned or the curious ones. One can see agricultural tools there, cartwright trade, tools bound to professions of lumbermen, smith, woodworker as well as the kitchen utensils there... Ecomuseum is open the 2nd weekend from April to October; every weekend of July and August and the other days of the year on appointment
MUSEUM OF the FATHER CHRISTMAS AND "MEDIA MUSEUM" AT CHAILLY-EN-BIERE
The MUSEUM of the Father of Christmas makes it possible to discover the universe of this character who fills with wonder the children at the whole world. Posters of the Father Christmas coming from all countries, animate imps, toys of yesterday and today... and a small movie on the life of the Father Christmas supplements this museum. The Media museum report the history of the means of communication, the phonograph in CD or the lantern to the video camera. A room of movie 16mm installation, a studio of televisual fakings and temporary exhibitions, supplement this strange museum.