The Maison Zola, the Dreyfus Museum in Médan, Yvelines

A museum dedicated to the Dreyfus Affair? That's what we're inviting you to discover at Médan in the Yvelines, at the heart of Emile Zola's estate. What was once Émile Zola's home has been transformed into a museum dedicated to the Dreyfus Affair, in which Zola played a crucial role with the publication of his famous article " J'accuse...! " in L'Aurore in 1898. The museum immerses visitors in this complex period of literature, politics and justice, highlighting Zola's courage and commitment to truth and justice.

The idea behind the Musée Dreyfus is to bring the Dreyfus Affair to life. The emphasis is on lesser-known and rarely-seen documents and media, enabling us to understand the strategies of the Dreyfusards and anti-Dreyfusards: photography, songs, light projections, brochures, posters, leaflets and flyers...

Here you can discover the restored house where Zola lived and wrote many of his major works. The house's rooms have been carefully decorated to reflect the atmosphere of the period, with period furniture and Zola's personal objects. There are also explanatory panels and temporary exhibitions dedicated to the Dreyfus Affair, illustrating not only its impact on French society but also on Zola's personal life and career.

The museum does not limit itself to the preservation of memory; it is also a center for reflection on the themes of justice, freedom of expression and human rights. Conferences, workshops and temporary exhibitions are regularly organized to explore these essential issues, which still resonate in the contemporary context.

This one-of-a-kind museum offers not only a plunge into history, but also a reflection on society's fundamental values. To visit the Musée Dreyfus is to step back in time, to relive the high points of the Third French Republic, and to rediscover the struggles for justice and truth that marked the end of the 19th century. A veritable treasure trove for lovers of history and literature.

Note that access to the park overlooking the house and its landscaped garden is free. You're welcome to stroll around the grounds, and why not relax in the shade of the trees on the chairs scattered around the grounds.

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Throughout the year, the Musée Dreyfus offers a wide range of activities for young and old, amateurs and the simply curious:

• Meetings with authors to coincide with the publication of books on the Affaire, Zola, Naturalism and the period.
• Debates with films on Zola, the Affaire and the questions it raises
• Concerts (songs, music or modern takes on the works of the period)
• University symposia
• Temporary exhibitions
• Regular lunches on the grass for friends of the Museum, readings, concerts and fin-de-siècle picnics.

Located at 26, rue Pasteur in Médan, Émile Zola's house is open to visitors Wednesday to Sunday, 9:30am to 12:30pm and 1:30pm to 5:30pm. For a complete experience, including a visit to the writer's house and the Musée Dreyfus, advance reservations are essential. Without a reservation, visitors only have access to the Dreyfus Museum. Prices vary according to the formula chosen: the combined visit costs €9.50 for an individual ticket, with a reduced rate of €6 for students, while groups of 20 or more benefit from a rate of €8 per adult and €6 per student. Reservations can be made directly on the website.

Zola's house and the Dreyfus museum are easily accessible by several means of transport. By car, take the A13 or A14 freeways, exit 7, direction Villennes then Médan. From Gare Saint-Lazare in Paris, take SNCF line J towards Mantes-la-Jolie via Poissy, and get off at Villennes-sur-Seine. From there, it's a 20-minute walk or take bus 43 to Les Mureaux (Château à Médan stop). For those coming by RER, line A leads to Poissy station, from where bus 43 can also be taken.

To discover:

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