Ivan Turgenev European Museum
Presentation
Labelled Maison des Illustres 2023 - Discover the life and work of the famous Russian novelist Ivan Turgenev by visiting the house-museum dedicated to him in Bougival. A unique and fascinating place, out of time…
The writer Ivan Turgenev lived the last 9 years of his life in this area where he built a half-Russian, half-Swiss chalet : the Datcha in reference to his country of origin. It was in this house, which had become a museum, that he wrote some of his masterpieces, such as his novel "Terres Vierges" and his Poèmes en prose. In 1876, he completed the Russian translation of "The legend of Saint Julien the Hospitaller" by Gustave Flaubert.
The house belongs to the "Les Frênes" estate, owned by the Viardot family, of which the artist was very close. The residence was built in 1874. The artist lived there with the singer Pauline Viardot, whom he met in Saint Petersburg. He will maintain a relationship with her for 40 years, until his death in 1883. You will thus discover the Palladian villa of the singer Pauline Viardot within the estate.
The house has hosted great names in literature and the arts such as Guy de Maupassant, Georges Sand, Alexandre Dumas, Maeterlinck, Chopin, Zola and even Sollogoub… Magical places to enter the intimate universe of these writers and artists. Ivan Turgenev's Datcha is part of the Writers' Houses Route.
During your visit, you will discover the daily life of the artist, his pianoforte, his personal photos as well as his bedroom and his writing room. A writer opposed to slavery and injustice. A unique and instructive visit for lovers of literature !
The house belongs to the "Les Frênes" estate, owned by the Viardot family, of which the artist was very close. The residence was built in 1874. The artist lived there with the singer Pauline Viardot, whom he met in Saint Petersburg. He will maintain a relationship with her for 40 years, until his death in 1883. You will thus discover the Palladian villa of the singer Pauline Viardot within the estate.
The house has hosted great names in literature and the arts such as Guy de Maupassant, Georges Sand, Alexandre Dumas, Maeterlinck, Chopin, Zola and even Sollogoub… Magical places to enter the intimate universe of these writers and artists. Ivan Turgenev's Datcha is part of the Writers' Houses Route.
During your visit, you will discover the daily life of the artist, his pianoforte, his personal photos as well as his bedroom and his writing room. A writer opposed to slavery and injustice. A unique and instructive visit for lovers of literature !
Opening day(s)
From Saturday 29 March to Saturday 25 October 2025
Le 1er samedi, le 3ème samedi monthly
14:00 to 18:00
LIBELLE_LABEL_CHAINE
- Arts and culture :
- Arts and culture
- Local history
General information
- Visites :
- Average group visit length (minutes) 90
- Average individual visit length (minutes) 60
- Type of culturel patrimony :
- Museum
- themes :
- History
- Famous people
LIBELLE_EQUIPEMENT_SERVICES
- Individual tour services :
- Guided individual tours on request
- Unguided individual tours available permanently
- Group tour services :
- Guided group tours on request
Prices
- Payment methods :
Download
Contact
Ivan Turgenev European Museum
16, rue Yvan Tourgueneff
78380
Bougival
Phone : +33 1 39 24 88 88
- Spoken language(s) :
We also suggest...
