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Musée des Années Trente | |
| If you like the art, architecture and design of the 1930s, venture west to this fine Museum of the 1930s in the Paris suburb of Boulogne-Billancourt, itself a very 1930s place. | ||
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The Musée des Années 30 (Trente) (Museum of the 1930s) is located in the Paris suburb of Boulogne-Billancourt, 8 km (5 miles) southwest of Paris's Place de la Concorde, just outside the Paris city limits to the south of the Bois de Boulogne (map). Once an industrial zone, Boulogne-Billancourt was destroyed by bombing during World War I and rebuilt largely in the Art Deco /International architectural style, making it the most appropriate place for a museum of the era Entre Deux Guerres (Between the Wars). Musée des Années TrenteThe museum is located in the Espace Landowski (map), which also holds the Médiathèque Landowski, both named for sculptor Paul Landowski (1875-1961), famous for his Art Deco sculptures including the enormous Christ the Redeemer statue that crowns Corcovado peak above Rio de Janeiro. The tall Sainte Geneviève on Paris's Pont de la Tournelle is another of his well-known works. The Art Deco style is the highlight of the museum, but its collection is not limited to that alone. Paintings, sculptures, furniture, ceramics and glass, décor and objets-d'art by artists active between World Wars I and II, whatever their style, are represented in the surprisingly wide-ranging, excellent collection.
The works of art formerly housed in the Musée-jardin Paul-Landowski (closed in April 2017) are now in the Musée des Années Trente. Musée Paul-BelmondoBoulogne-Billancourt's Château Buchillot, 14 rue de l'Abreuvoir (map), has been renovated as a museum of the works of sculptor Paul Belmondo (1898-1982), father of actor Jean-Paul Belmondo. The collection includes hundreds of sculptures, drawings and other objects. More... Bibliothèque Paul-MarmottanYet another Paul museum, the Marmottan Library, 7 place Denfert-Rochereau, houses the collections of art historian and critic Paul Marmottan (1856-1932), who specialized in First Empire (ie, Napoleonic) works. The Musée Marmottan-Monet is another of his legacies. More... Art Deco Walking ToursBoulogne-Billancourt has numerous noteworthy Art Deco/ International Style buildings. The municipality has organized guided and self-guided walking tours (Les Parcours des Années 30) of this architectural heritage. For maps, directions, and guided-tour departure dates and times, contact the Office de tourisme de Boulogne-Billancourt, 25 avenue André-Morizet (map); tel: (01) 41 41 54 54) near the Espace Landowski and Musée des Années Trente. More... How to Go ThereThe trip by Métro from central Paris to Boulogne-Billancourt takes about an hour. Take the Métro Line 9 to Marcel Sembat, or Line 10 to Boulogue - Jean Jaurès (map). From either Métro station, it's a 10-minute walk to the museum, which is near Boulogue-Billancourt's Hôtel de Ville (City Hall) and Office de Tourisme. By bus (line 126 or 175), get out at the Hôtel de Ville de Boulogne stop for the short walk. In Boulogne-Billancourt, a free municipal bus service is operated by SUBB. The Boucle Nord line passes the Hôtel de Ville stop near the Espace Landowski and the Office de Tourisme (route map). Musée des Années Trente
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Espace Landowski, home of the Musée des Années Trente & Médiathèque Landowski, Boulogne-Billancourt.
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