Musée Bonnat-Helleu Reopens in Bayonne After €35m Renovation

The Musée Bonnat-Helleu, located in Bayonne, France, has reopened following a €35 million renovation that took 14 years and expanded its size significantly. Often referred to as 'the Little Louvre', the museum boasts nearly 7,000 artworks, which is about 10% of what the Louvre holds. Established by Léon Bonnat, who began his art collection journey after a scholarship in 1853, the museum was officially commissioned in 1901 to display 3,000 pieces, including works by da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Rembrandt. Bonnat's collection was bequeathed to the Louvre in 1922, ensuring its preservation in Bayonne. The new director, Barthélemy Etchegoyen Glama, seeks to boost the region's cultural significance. The renovation also restored original glass roofs and mosaic floors, blending ancient and modern art.