Born in Spain, Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) settled in France after fleeing from Franco's régime. Even though he rarely returned to his native country, most of his paintings reflect his Andalusian origins. On the painter's death, his descendants left many of his works to the French state to pay for death duties. It is partly thanks to these works that the museum was founded in the hôtel Salé, originally designed by the architect Jean Boullier in 1656 for Aubert Fontenay, a collector specializing in the salt tax. Inside the museum, visitors follow the style changes of the great master and admire the creations from his blue, pink and cubist periods. Please note that the museum will be closed beginning on August 23, it will remain closed for approximatly 24 months due to imrovements to the building.