Picasso museum & Grimaldi castle

Picasso & Grimaldi

With the azure Mediterranean as its nearest neighbor to the south, a visit here gives rise to both contemplation and peace of mind.

Just standing on the castle’s outdoor terrace, where both the Grimaldi family back to the 16th century and since Pablo Picasso has stood and enjoyed the magnificent views, is in itself an unforgettable experience.

Today, the museum is known as the Picasso Museum and it was actually the first museum in the world dedicated to the artist.

The Grimaldi Castle

Château Grimaldi was originally built in the late 14th century as the residence of the Grimaldi family and has borne its name ever since. During the French Revolution, the castle was seized by the revolutionary authorities and the town hall moved into the castle. Later, the building was converted into barracks in 1820.

In 1925, Grimaldi Castle was purchased by the city of Antibes, thus becoming the Grimaldi Museum. In 1946, Pablo Picasso was offered to use part of the castle as an atelier and this resulted in a six months’ stay in this historic building.

Picasso and the other artists

Picasso worked enthusiastically and was extremely productive at the castle. After his stay in 1946, Pablo Picasso left 23 paintings and 44 drawings deposited with the city of Antibes.

Among the most famous paintings from this period are: La Joie de Vivre, Faun and Centaur, Le Gobeur d’Oursins, La Femme au Collier Jaune, Still life with the Owl and Three Sea Urchins as well as La Chèvre.

In December 1966, the city of Antibes once again paid tribute to Pablo Picasso, and Grimaldi Castle officially became the Picasso Museum, the first museum in the world dedicated to the artist. In 1991, the museum received a donation from Jacqueline Picasso which included four paintings, ten drawings, two ceramic works and six etchings.

Works by Nicolas de Staël, also on display at the museum, testify to his time in Antibes from September 1954 to March 1955, when he tragically committed suicide.

In 2001, a donation from the Hans Hartung and Anna-Eva Bergman Foundation allowed the opening of two rooms on the ground floor of the museum.

Experience the sculptures on the terrace

The terrace of the Picasso Museum is home to a permanent collection of sculptures by Germaine Richier.

In addition, works by – among others – Joan Miró, Bernard Pagès, and Anne and Patrick Poirier are represented at the museum.

The two other Picasso museums in the world are located in Spain: the Malaga Museum and the Barcelona Museum.

D’ont forget to visit some of the other famous painters from the Côte d’Azur: Henri Matisse and Marc Chagall.

Entrence 8 euros.

By Tommy Sverre / 2021