Château de Vallauris and the War and Peace Chapel

A Romanesque chapel with Picasso’s War and Peace

Local name: Château de Vallauris — Musée national Picasso « La Guerre et la Paix »

Collection: Around Cannes · France · Open in OpenStreetMap

The story

Before you is the Château de Vallauris. It was once a priory of Lérins Abbey: the prior lived here and ran these lands for the abbey. The present château was rebuilt in 1568 and is one of the few Renaissance buildings in the area. Its chapel is older, Romanesque, probably from the twelfth century. In 1501 the prior invited families from near Ventimiglia to the empty village, and Vallauris came back to life. Pots were made here for a long time, and from the eighteenth century Vallauris became the main center for clay cooking pots. From 1948 to 1955 Pablo Picasso lived here. At the Madoura workshop of Georges and Suzanne Ramié he discovered ceramics. In 1952, in his studio, Picasso painted two huge pictures, War and Peace, on sheets of hardboard. In 1954 they were set up in the chapel, and in 1959 the museum was officially opened. On the square next door stands his bronze Man with a Sheep. Picasso gave the statue to the town and chose its spot himself.

Visiting

The château houses three museums: the Musée national Picasso “La Guerre et la Paix,” the Musée Magnelli and the ceramics museum. Usually open 10:00–12:15 and 14:00–17:00; from July 1 to September 15, 10:00–12:30 and 14:00–18:00; the ticket desk closes earlier. Closed on Tuesdays, and on January 1, May 1, November 1 and 11, and December 25. There is an entrance fee; free for under-18s, and free for everyone on the first Sunday of the month. The chapel is wheelchair accessible. The statue on Place Paul-Isnard can be seen at any time. Hours and prices are best checked on musees-nationaux-alpesmaritimes.fr.

On the way

• Nice → Cannes
• Cannes → Grasse
• Cannes → Antibes

Photos

Sources

• Musées nationaux du XXe siècle des Alpes-Maritimes — La chapelle
• Musées nationaux du XXe siècle des Alpes-Maritimes — La Guerre et la Paix
• Musées nationaux du XXe siècle des Alpes-Maritimes — Picasso à Vallauris
• Musées nationaux du XXe siècle des Alpes-Maritimes — Informations pratiques (Picasso)
• Ville de Vallauris Golfe-Juan — Vallauris et la céramique
• Ville de Vallauris Golfe-Juan — L’histoire de Vallauris Golfe-Juan
• Ministère de la Culture, base Mérimée — Château et chapelle, Vallauris (PA00080906)

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