The Musée de la Guesdière in Saint-Leu-d'Esserent

The Musée de la Guesdière is located in the oldest part of the city of Saint-Leu-d'Esserent,close to Chantilly and Senlis. It comprises four rooms located in the oldest parts of the former castle of Saint-Leu-d'Esserent, from which it takes its name: Château de la Guesdière.

A museum on local history

The Musée de la Guesdière is currently closed for a makeover! [Updated February 2023]

When you enter the courtyard of the museum, you can't help but admire the beauty of the limestone architecture typical of the southern Oise region reflecting the warm sunlight. It's the perfect setting for a photo souvenir ! In summer, we often see married couples strolling through the park for their wedding photos.

The charm of this museum lies in the ancient atmosphere of the place, which has survived the centuries: the main room of the museum is the first that we can see from the entrance. We can recognize the former stables of the medieval castle with its large carriage entrance doors and a very high ceiling. The half-light wraps us in a cocoon and a contemplative atmosphere, time suspended. In this first room we discover an exhibition recounting the key events and illustrious personalities of Saint-Leu-d'Esserent, such as Marie Félicie Orsini (niece of Marie de Médicis) and her husband, Henri II de Montmorency (great-grandson of Constable Anne de Montmorency).

Discovering the builders

A collection of stone sculptures from the Abbey churchlocated not far from the museum, takes us back to the time of the builders. In the next room, you can admire the entire beauty of this Abbey thanks to a magnificent stone model. The freshness and special atmosphere that reign in this cave like room immerses us into the world of the old quarrymen, whose tools are on display. We can then imagine the toil of these workers who extracted the stone for centuries to build our most beautiful monuments such as the Château de Versailles, the Arc de Triomphe or the Opéra Garnier. In the next room, we can explore the town's rich medieval past and learn more about the history of the monks of the Cluniac priory.

Recent history of Saint-Leu-d'Esserent

And finally... old postcards and moving testimonials from local residents poignantly bring to life the german occupation and allied bombing in 1944. You can imagine the hard times they had to endure during the Second World War as they sought shelter in the underground passages.

Whether it's for shelter when it rains or to cool off in the underground rooms, this museum is perfect for learning about local history. After the visit, we can extend our exploration by strolling through the narrow streets that lead to the the Abbey and theold priory overlooking the city and offering a panoramic view of the valley, passing by Cave Bavin,a former medieval cellars used by the Cluniac monks to store their wine casks.