Jean Monnet House

To visit the Jean Monnet House is to immerse yourself in the very place where the idea of a united Europe took its first steps towards reality. This is where the Declaration of 9 May 1950, the founding text of European integration, was written. It was made public by Robert Schuman, the then French Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Jean Monnet, one of the Founding Fathers of the European Union

It was in this simple and welcoming home located in Bazoches-sur-Guyonne, 45 kilometres west of Paris, that Jean Monnet spent most of his life after the Second World War, and it is here that many projects essential to the future of France and Europe have been developed.

Sheltered here from the hustle and bustle of Paris, Jean Monnet, surrounded by relatives and colleagues, was able to develop his vision of peace and European unity. This house was for decades the scene of the statesman’s tireless efforts.

The museum’s multimedia activities show how Jean Monnet shaped the Europe of today and how European institutions influence citizens’ lives.
Immerse yourself at your own pace in the historic rooms (living room, dining room and bedroom) on the ground floor with their many objects, photographs, paintings and archival documents. Formerly occupied by the girls’ and guest rooms, the first floor now hosts the interactive exhibition on the life and work of Jean Monnet. A 12-minute documentary, made from a collection of rare videos, reveals how he managed to meet the most important political figures from around the world, working tirelessly on his vision of a united Europe.

A European park and garden

The permanent exhibition continues in the park of the house, to which Jean Monnet was particularly attached. A route punctuated by several stopping points takes you back to his youth and the many countries he visited during the journeys on which he learned his trade as a cognac merchant, until his marriage to Silvia de Bondini in the 1930s and his move to the house and to the hamlet of Houjarray, in the heart of the area that would later become the Haute Vallée de Chevreuse Regional Natural Park.

Come with family or friends to discover the place where Jean Monnet lived and worked, and deepen your knowledge of Europe.

Admission is free and the visit with audio guide lasts approximately 60 minutes.

The Jean Monnet House and the European Night of Museums

Take advantage of the European Night of Museums every year to become the owner’s special guest. Over a glass of Cognac Monnet, in a small group, you will (re)discover this unassuming man, and his masterful work.