Jean Cocteau’s House

“It’s as if the house was expecting me”. Jean Cocteau first came across this understated house, tucked away down a pathway in the heart of Milly-la-Forêt, in 1947 when he visited with fellow actor Jean Marais – and it was love at first sight. The Louis XIII building is a former outbuilding of Château de la Bonde, which was owned by Admiral of France Louis Malet de Graville in the 15th century. With its Louis XIII-style exterior and two hectares of gardens surrounded by the irrigation channels and moats of the neighbouring château, the charming setting was a haven of peace for Cocteau – who directed the 1946 film Beauty and the Beast and wrote Les Enfants Terribles – who needed time to rest and relax away from prying eyes and the hustle and bustle of Paris. Cocteau spent the last 17 years of his life here, until he passed away in 1963. He is laid to rest in the Saint-Blaise-des-Simples chapel nearby, alongside his final companion.

A particularly rich 2026 season

From April 18 to November 29, the 2026 season opens at the House Cocteau to Milly-la-foret. This artist’s house, awarded the “Maison des Illustres” label, invites visitors to a unique immersion into the intimate world of Jean Cocteau, at the crossroads of poetry, creativity, and nature. The 2026 highlights notably include exceptional loans from the Centre Pompidou, featuring two major portraits of Cocteau, as well as *two new exhibitions dedicated to his relationship with Colette and to his work at the Chapelle Saint-Blaise-des-Simples.

[The exhibition “Colette, a great sister”]( is one of the season’s key highlights, while the “The Chapel of Simples” exhibition reveals the creative process behind this monumental work, from the choice of iconography—focused in particular on medicinal plants and the Resurrection—to the creation of the wall frescoes and the design of the stained-glass windows.

This ambitious cultural programme is also enriched by a series of summer concerts, offering an immersive experience centered on music and Cocteau’s artistic friendships. From June 13 to September 19 2026, this musical programme, composed of eight original concerts, highlights Cocteau’s passion for music and the connections he maintained with many 20th-century composers and performers, ranging from jazz to the works of Reynaldo Hahn.

Blending heritage, contemporary creation, and cultural mediation, the Jean Cocteau House stands out as a must-visit destination for lovers of culture, history, and events in the Paris Region.

Jean Cocteau's bestiary

As you walk through the different rooms – including the living room, office and bedroom, all in their original condition and fully furnished and decorated by Cocteau himself – you’ll find yourself immersed in the mythological and Baroque tendencies so characteristic of his work. With the advice of his friend, the decorator Madeleine Castaing, Jean Cocteau gave free rein to his imagination, building an eclectic décor in which sphinxes, mermaids and merry-go-round horses blend with imitation leopard tapestries and horned furniture to compose a mysterious melody. A dreamlike journey through the poet's work!

Discover Jean Cocteau’s House through one of the treasure hunts in the Paris Region Adventures application specially designed for families and downloadable free of charge.