Musée de la Chartreuse de Douai

The Musée de la Chartreuse is a renowned art museum located in Douai, France. Housed in a former Carthusian monastery, it serves as the city's 'musée des Beaux-Arts'. The museum complex, which includes several 16th, 17th, and 18th-century buildings, was initially built in the Renaissance style by Jacques d'Abancourt. It was later extended and acquired by various religious orders before becoming a Carthusian home in the mid-17th century. The building was repurposed for military use during the French Revolution and suffered damage in 1944. It was purchased by the city in 1951 and has housed the city's art museum since 1958. The museum showcases over 100 works, tracing the evolution of European painting from the Middle Ages to modern art. Its collection includes notable works by Paul Veronese, Carracci, Jehan Bellegambe, Henri-Edmond Cross, and Félix Labisse, among others. These works were generously donated by various benefactors over the years. The museum also organises temporary exhibitions and has been listed as a Monument historique since 1930 by the French Ministry of Culture. It's a must-visit for art enthusiasts and history buffs alike.