Maisons Satie

More of an experience than a museum, but definitely an interesting experience. Wear the receiver around your neck, plug in your earbuds, and stop moving whenever you hear music or words. Each room, sometimes multiple locations in the room, or even objects in the room will trigger a Satie commentary, an appropriate Satie musical clip, or both. It is by turns serious, whimsical, surreal, or macabre. I learned that Satie did waltzes, marches, and operas as well as the more familiar and contemplative pieces. Mostly, though, I was just entertained.

This museum is a very interesting and artistic mix between modern art, contemporary art, original historic pieces (like documents, letters and objects), music and only lastly: information. It is like walking through a scrapbook of the thoughts and works of the composer. Artists did a good job capturing the personality of the eccentric, maverick and influential artist Erik Satie in the museum's strange visuals, its off-beat presentation and historical facts and artifacts in a very unconventional way. The visitor is shown and told (partly using a clever audio guide system that activates when pointing at something) fragments of the lifetime of the composer while walking through a surreal set of chambers, each filled with all sorts of art, original pieces and of course: Satie's music. Some highlights are: a peculiar collection of umbrellas and unopened letters, a room with a host of original manuscripts and artifacts (presented on thin sticks in the middle of a room), a strange merry-go-round contraption that visitors need to physically activate themselves to "encircle the music") and a player piano that plays Satie's three Gnossienes in a minimalistic empty room. This having been a 'regular' museum would not have done the composer justice, and the artists who created this Maisons Satie museum did an excellent job. It would do the visitor a world of good though, to first look up some information on the life and works of Erik Satie to fully understand the atmosphere of this place, as 'explanation' does not seem to have been the main purpose.

A really cute small museum/ experience centre. It was really interesting learning about Satie. My small children (4 and 6 ) also really enjoyed it, it's a creative experience.

Very different museum. The entrance door is very stiff and you need to push down very hard on the handle to get in , tbh we were at the point of giving up when someone opened the door from the inside. We booked a bus called Bee le harve which took us from Le Harve to Honfluer for 19 Euros return, an excellent service and so much cheaper than MSC cruise prices. Some of the automation was not working so we were offered a half price entry. Honfluer is the most beautiful town we have ever visited in France. Wonderful medieval building as is this museum. Many shops museums etc close for lunch 12-2 ish

Weird and wacky world od Erik Satie - well worth a visit if you like off the wall things.

Lovely kindof exposition, far more diverse than only musical. A real arty surprise!

Interactive exhibition design brings incredibly fun, yet not convincing in elaborating the theme, connection between music and emotions. Nevertheless, it's Satie, it's music, it's beautiful.

Maisons Satie was a great place. Enchanting, and a little absurd, we felt like we experienced the world of Satie in his own home in Hanfleur. My only remark would be that there is no introduction to Satie and his musical background, my friend did not know him and I had to explain the musical time, his ideas (musique d'ameublement) and who were his "successors" what were figured in the museum (le groupe des six). I don't think I learnt many things either which was a shame. All in all: a great experience, but not really a museum per say!

Closed Tuesdays. Located on a charming historic street, it is worth walking by even if it is closed. House faces the park, historic street on other side. A cut through walkway connects the two.