The Fondation de Coubertin Estate and Museum, the treasure of the Yvelines at Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse

The Domaine et Musée de la Fondation Coubertin, nestled in Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse, is a true cultural treasure of the Yvelines region. Many know the town for its sublime Ponts promenade just a stone's throw away, but did you know that the Fondation Coubertin estate is open to visitors at weekends? Here you can discover the Jardin des bronzes, an open-air sculpture museum set in a superb park between plain and forest. The château houses the magnificent works of Joseph Bernard.

The Fondation de Coubertin was born in 1949 from the meeting between Yvonne de Coubertin and Jean Bernard. Their shared vision led to the creation of a workers' university recognized as a public utility in 1973. The Fondation de Coubertin is dedicated to moral and cultural upliftment, transmitting the values of humanism through an education focused on manual trades.

The Fondation de Coubertin museum, which has been awarded the"Musée de France" label, houses sculptures and drawings dating from the late 19th century to the present day. The museum displays its collections in several spaces around the château, offering a unique exhibition in the heart of nature. The collection began with gifts from Jean Bernard in 1985, and has grown over the years through donations and bequests.

Domaine de Coubertin covers 30 hectares and includes the château, the hamlet and the park. The château, built in the 17th century, is a historic site that belonged to the Fredy de Coubertin family for 400 years. Today, it houses the Foundation's collections. The hamlet, separated from the château by a chapel, offers accommodation for students and visitors, as well as lecture and conference rooms. The park, with the Ateliers Saint-Jacques and the Fonderie de Coubertin, exhibits some of the museum's sculptures and is a renowned vocational training center.

The Jardin des bronzes, below the château, is a permanent exhibition of sculptures dating from the 19th century to the present day. Designed by architect Robert Auzelle at Jean Bernard's request, the garden extends over a former orchard. A narrow water path links three basins, forming the central axis, while small staircases provide access to successive terraces, taking advantage of the sloping terrain. Earthworks and structural work, carried out between 1979 and 1982, created this marvellous open-air exhibition space. Works by André Abbal, Joseph Bernard, Antoine Bourdelle, René Collamarini, Jean Carton, Appel.les Fenosa and Robert Wlérick are on permanent display. Étienne Hadju is represented by Eléonore (bronze) and Fabulation (lead bas-relief, unique piece). The garden is linked to the lawn behind the château by a monumental staircase, where Pablo Gargallo's Urano can be admired.

The walk through the alleys of the château park is enhanced by large sculptures. The driveway features works by Fenosa, Karel, Dominique Labauvie, Marta Pan and Jean Cardot. In front of the château stand two monumental bronzes by Bourdelle, created by the Fonderie de Coubertin: Cheval du monument du général Alvear and L'Epopée polonaise.

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Behind the château, the English-style park dating from 1863, with its vast lawn, is home to works by Marta Pan, including Trois Disques fendus. On the terrace overlooking the Jardin des bronzes are three bronzes byÉtienne-Martin, Personnage III, and further on, Adret, a corten steel by Pierre Tual, installed in the perspective of the 18th-century ice house.

This spring 2024, the museum presents a temporary exhibition dedicated to the sculptor Maria Papa Rostkowska, from April 13 to July 14. This Polish artist, influenced by Jean Arp and Lucio Fontana, presents her marble creations, made in the Italian quarries of the Henraux marble factory in Querceta.

The museum is open to the public only on Saturdays and Sundays from 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm, from Easter weekend to July 14th. For adult and school group visits, reservations are required from April 1 to October 31, Monday to Saturday, 9.30am to 5.30pm. Rates are €5 full price and €3 concessions, with free admission for under-18s. Cultural activities, such as guided tours and family workshops, are available at an additional cost of €3.

In short, this is a great idea for a stroll through an open-air museum, a visit to a wooded estate and the discovery of a temporary exhibition by a talented sculptress.