Museo Bonnat-Helleu in Bayonne reopens after 14-year renovation

After being closed since 2011 due to structural issues, the Musée Bonnat-Helleu in Bayonne, southwestern France, has reopened following a major renovation that cost approximately €30 million. The project, completed in 2025, doubled the exhibition space and restored over 1,300 artworks. The museum houses one of the most important collections of ancient art in the region, including 3,500 works bequeathed by painter Léon Bonnat (1833–1922) under the condition that they remain in Bayonne. This testamentary disposition has linked the museum to the Louvre, making it the largest depository of Louvre works in France. The historic building, constructed between 1896 and 1898 by architect Charles Planckaert in classical style with limestone, features a restored mosaic from the Facchina house patio, painted decorations by Noël Bouton from around 1900, and rediscovered stained glass windows. The contemporary extension, designed by BLP & Associés, includes a new public space and a distinctive column called the "Faro." The museum's collection grew through donations from Derrecagaix, Personnaz, Petithory, and the Helleu family between 1988 and 2009, making it a reference point for Paul Helleu's work.