On September 28, 2024, the Museum of Sufi Art and Culture, or MACS MTO, opened in Chatou, a suburb of Paris, marking the launch of the world's first museum entirely dedicated to Sufism. Located in a beautifully renovated 19th-century mansion along the Seine, the museum offers 600 square meters of exhibition space across three floors, featuring a peaceful Sufi garden and an archival research library.
The museum’s permanent collection displays an array of artifacts, including sculptures, textiles, calligraphy, manuscripts, and ceramic and mirror mosaics, many carrying profound symbolic meanings in Sufism. A key highlight is a monumental granite kashkul sculpture created between 1974 and 1976, designed by Hazrat Shah Maghsoud Sadegh Angha, the 41st Master of the MTO Shahmaghsoudi School of Islamic Sufism. This piece symbolizes the spiritual journey of Sufis, representing themes of purification and enlightenment.
MACS MTO also hosts contemporary art exhibitions, talks, events, and workshops intended to encourage cultural exchange and spiritual reflection. Its inaugural exhibition, titled "Un Ciel intérieur" (An Inner Sky), includes works by seven international contemporary artists chosen for their connections to Sufi values and spiritual themes. Artists such as Bianca Bondi, Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian, and Younes Rahmoun contribute pieces that delve into inner exploration and the pursuit of the divine essence.
The museum was established by the Maktab Tarighat Oveyssi Shahmaghsoudi – School of Islamic Sufism, an international non-profit organization with a network of around 150 centers globally. The museum seeks to foster a space for dialogue between visitors and artists, regardless of their faith, to promote a deeper understanding of Sufism’s rich cultural expressions through art, culture, and research.
MACS MTO is located at 6 Avenue des Tilleuls, 78400 Chatou, France, easily accessible via RER A and only 150 meters from the Chatou – Croissy station. It is open from Wednesday to Friday, 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and on weekends from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. More information is available on its official website.