The Grand Siècle Museum, before its relocation, is offering a series of lectures dedicated to the architects who shaped the 17th-century landscape. Figures such as Salomon de Brosse, Jules Hardouin-Mansart, Louis Le Vau, and François Mansart will be explored at the Petit Château de Sceaux.
The program will span three Sundays: October 4, October 11, and October 18, 2026, with sessions starting at 3 PM. Each lecture will last one hour, followed by a Q&A session with the public.
The first lecture, on Sunday, October 4, will focus on François Mansart (1598-1666), described as the "god of architecture" by Jacques-François Blondel. Etienne Faisant, head of the Nicolas Poussin research center, will present the major role of this architect-artist whose works influenced French architecture.
On Sunday, October 11, Alexandre Gady, director of the Grand Siècle museum's prefiguration mission, will discuss Louis Le Vau (1612-1670) and "the poetry of architecture." Coming from a modest background, Le Vau marked the Grand Siècle with his innovative designs for figures like Nicolas Fouquet, before becoming the King's First Architect and working on prestigious commissions such as the Louvre and Versailles.
Finally, on Sunday, October 18, Alexandre Gady will return to discuss Jules Hardouin-Mansart (1646-1708), "architect of the King and king of architects." Grand-nephew of François Mansart, he is the creator of emblematic structures of Louis XIV's reign, including the Hall of Mirrors, Place Vendôme, and the dome of Les Invalides.
Ticket prices for each lecture vary: €8 for the full price, €5 for a reduced rate, and €4 for solidarity rate or for those under 18. Reservations can be made via email at museedugrandsiecle@hauts-de-seine.fr.
