Department
Museums, galleries and heritage in Val-de-Marne
37 places to discover across Val-de-Marne.
Including Château de Vincennes, Château de Grosbois and Musée Exploradôme.
Towns to explore
Alfortville · Arcueil · Boissy-Saint-Léger · Bonneuil-sur-Marne · Bry-sur-Marne · Cachan · Champigny-sur-Marne · Charenton-le-Pont · Choisy-le-Roi · Créteil · Fontenay-sous-Bois · Fresnes · Gentilly · Ivry-sur-Seine · Joinville-le-Pont · L'Haÿ-les-Roses · Le Kremlin-Bicêtre · Le Perreux-sur-Marne ·
A department of overlooked cultural depth
Val-de-Marne rarely appears on a first-time visitor's itinerary, yet it holds one of the densest concentrations of small and mid-sized art institutions in the Paris region. The department's identity was shaped by artist communities that settled along the Marne and Seine in the twentieth century, leaving behind a legacy of municipal art centres, artist studios turned galleries, and specialised museums that continue to operate today, often with free or low-cost admission.
The Musée d'art contemporain du Val-de-Marne in Vitry-sur-Seine anchors the department's contemporary art scene, a role echoed on a smaller scale by the Centre d'art contemporain d'Ivry - le Crédac nearby. Photography has its own dedicated venue at the Maison de la photographie Robert Doisneau in Gentilly, while the sciences are represented by two very different institutions: the child-oriented Musée Exploradôme in Vitry-sur-Seine and the historic Musée Fragonard in Maisons-Alfort, founded in 1766 alongside the veterinary school and among the oldest museums in France.
A constellation of riverside towns, not a single city
Because Val-de-Marne has no single dominant cultural centre, its museums and galleries are scattered across towns that each developed their own institutions. Vincennes alone hosts several galleries in close proximity, including Frémeaux & Associés, Openbach Vincennes and Galerie Dada.
Ivry-sur-Seine and Vitry-sur-Seine, adjoining towns south of Paris, form the department's most active contemporary art axis, combining the le Crédac, the Galerie Fernand Léger and the Le Hublot d'Ivry on one side of the border, and the Musée d'art contemporain du Val-de-Marne, the Galerie Municipale Jean-Collet and the Musée Exploradôme
Frequently asked questions
What is the most historically significant museum in Val-de-Marne?
The Musée Fragonard in Maisons-Alfort, founded in 1766 with the veterinary school, is one of the oldest museums in France and its anatomical collection is unique in the region.
Is contemporary art well represented in Val-de-Marne?
Yes, notably through the Musée d'art contemporain du Val-de-Marne in Vitry-sur-Seine and the Centre d'art contemporain d'Ivry - le Crédac, complemented by numerous independent galleries in Ivry-sur-Seine and Vincennes.
Are Val-de-Marne's museums easily accessible from Paris?
Most towns mentioned, including Vitry-sur-Seine, Ivry-sur-Seine, Vincennes and Gentilly, are directly reachable from Paris by metro or RER in under 30 minutes.
Which venue is best for families with children?
The Musée Exploradôme in Vitry-sur-Seine is designed specifically for younger visitors, with over 50 hands-on scientific experiments.
Where can I see photography exhibitions in Val-de-Marne?
The Maison de la photographie Robert Doisneau in Gentilly is the department's dedicated photography venue, with rotating temporary exhibitions.
