The Maison Jean Cocteau in Milly la Forêt, a bucolic interlude between art and history in Essonne

Milly-la-Forêt, a pretty town nestled on the edge of the Fontainebleau forest, is home to the famous Maison de Jean Cocteau, a place steeped in history and poetry. Transformed into a museum, this residence, where the artist lived from 1947 until his death in 1963, invites us to plunge into the baroque universe of this 20th-century dandy, who was a friend of the greatest names of the time, such as Picasso and Edith Piaf.

There aren't that many heritage sites in Essonne. However, Milly-la-Forêt is home to several, including Tinguely's Cyclop and the Chapelle Saint-Blaise des Simples, which conceals frescoes of plants painted by Jean Cocteau. If you're just passing through, or if you fancy a trip to the countryside, you'll want to take a look.

La Maison de Jean Cocteau is the story of an artist who fell in love with the house and decided to buy it after the filming of"Beauty and the Beast". Today, this sanctuary has preserved the very essence of Jean Cocteau, the multi-talented poet, playwright, draughtsman, painter and film-maker.

This residence, formerly an outbuilding of the Château de la Bonde, bears witness not only to Cocteau's eventful life, his friendships and influences, his loves, but also to his immense and diverse body of work. It's a journey back in time, where each room, furnished and decorated as it was during his lifetime, each piece of garden and each work of art on display, reveals an aspect of his complex personality and artistic genius.

Strolling through the site's bucolic gardens or gazing up at the turrets that seem to watch over the entrance, you find yourself transported to another world, Cocteau's world, where reality mingles with poetry. In 2024, the second floor of the house will be dedicated to Jean Marais , one of Cocteau's great loves, who lived here. This visit will enable you to make unprecedented discoveries about the relationship between the two artists and the work they shared.

The Maison de Jean Cocteau is not just a museum; it's also a cultural venue, hosting a wide range of events and activities. Every summer, the site revives the tradition of music salons, organizing the "Samedis musicaux chez Jean Cocteau". An original temporary exhibition also explores his relationship with music, offering a journey through the musical 20th century, from Igor Stravinsky's"The Rite of Spring" to"Under the Bridges of Paris".

• To be read
• Tips for the week of September 30 to October 6, 2024 in Paris: free or inexpensive outings
• Free museums and monuments: places to visit this Sunday, October 6, 2024 in Paris
• Free Museums and Monuments to visit in Paris and the Ile-de-France region, good ideas for outings

The house is open from Thursday to Sunday, 11am to 6pm, with guided tours from 11am to 5pm. Reservations are strongly recommended to fully enjoy this immersive experience. The house is accessible to people with reduced mobility, and a reduced rate is available for several categories of visitor.

In short, why not discover the Maison de Jean Cocteau in Milly-la-Forêt? The House also boasts a sublime garden, which is also open to us for the Jardins Ouverts. You can visit the gardens on your own, and take advantage of a new feature: a refreshment bar offering hot and cold drinks, cakes and ice creams, before leaving with local products from the new boutique.