Domaine de Vizille

On July 21st 1788, the castle of Vizille entered History. The Etats Généraux of the Dauphiné meeting which had been forbade by Grenoble authorities had been thus sheltered by Claude Perrier. Seduced by the liberal ideas, his castle sheltered this meeting. 187 members of the Tiers Etats, 49 clergymen and 159 noblemen deliberated during 16 hours. In demanding the meeting of the Etats généraux this event is considered to have triggered the Revolution. The Salle du jeu de paume which was the witness of this event have burnt during the fire of 1865. Its implantation is now symbolised by a terrace planted with trees at the entrance of the museum.

The castle shelters the museum of the French Revolution since 1984. The collections gather pieces of art such as paintings, drawings, sculptures and engravings. One can see figurative piece of art too such as English and French ceramics, tapestries, materials and furniture. But one can also find French and foreign historical pieces such as (stones of the Bastille, swords of the National Guard) dating from the Ancien Régime to the 3rd Republic.

The museum recalls the French Revolution as well as the artistic creation and cultural transformations all around Europe, from the times of the Lumières to Romanticism.
The museum offers to the public an original approach of this period and its myth through evocative pieces which are replaced in their context.

The museum is opened every day except on Tuesdays, from 10 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. And from 1.30 p.m. to 6p.m. from April till October and from 10 a.m to 12.30 p.m and from 1.30 p.m. To 5 p.m from November till March. Closed on public holidays from November till March and on the May 1st . Free entrance and possibility of audio guide .

- Pets and bicycles are not allowed. Guide dogs and guide dogs are allowed.
Information 04 76 68 07 35
- Educational activities and tools for schoolchildren: workshops and guided tours by appointment.
- Actions intended for teachers, educational staff, animators: back-to-school meeting and educational documents made available to teachers free of charge.
- Documentary resources: the Albert Soboul Documentation Center is not a lending library but a research center. Open to the public by appointment. Contact: Hélène Puig: 04 76 78 71 86 or h.feger-puig@cg38.fr
Strengths of the documentary collection: The Documentation Center is one of the most important in Europe on the French Revolution.