Contemplate one of France's finest art collections at the Fesch Museum

Cardinal Fesch was Napoleon Bonaparte's uncle. Although they were only 6 years apart, the two men always got on well and forged fraternal ties. Born in 1763 in Ajaccio, Joseph Fesch was a great art lover who collected objets d'art throughout his life. The titles and fame bestowed on him by Napoleon during his empire enabled him to build up what remains today one of the largest and finest collections of works of art in France.

At the end of his life, Cardinal Fesch owned 17,767 works of art, including around 16,000 paintings. During his lifetime, this wealthy amateur had planned to create an institute of arts and sciences in the town of Ajaccio. However, it was long after his death that the Palais Fesch was built, on the orders of Napoleon III, who followed Joseph Fesch's will. On his death, the cardinal donated a large part of his collection to the town of Ajaccio and several other Corsican communes.

The collection at the Palais Fesch is one of the largest in France. The museum exhibits priceless pieces of Corsican history. The collection includes paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints, photography, objets d'art, textiles, coins and medals. The permanent collections are

• Graphic arts and photography
• Arranged in the style of Italian palaces
• Italian paintings from the 14th to 18th centuries
• The Napoleonic collection
• The collection of Corsican paintings
• The Cardinal Fesch historical collection

The north wing of the building houses the heritage room of the Ajaccio town library. In the south wing is the imperial chapel.

You can visit the Napoleonic Salon in the Palais Fesch. The room is entirely furnished and decorated with period objects and furniture. A real trip back in time. The Maison Bonaparte, in Ajaccio town centre, also tells the story of Napoleon.

📍 Location: 50-52 Rue Cardinal Fesch, 20000 Ajaccio

⏰ Opening hours: Apart from its annual closure from 1 to 16 January, the museum is open:

• from 1 November to 30 April, from 9 am to 5 pm, every day.
• 1 May to 31 October, 9.15 am to 6 pm, daily.

👛 Admission:

• adults: €8
• concessions (students, over 65 years old, etc.): €5
• Free for under-18s

🕑 Duration on site: between 2 and 3 hours