From Queen Marie Antoinette’s Rococo Style to the Empire: Jantziaren Zentroa’s New Exhibition
Saturday, July 4th, Jantziaren Zentroa opens its 2026-2027 permanent exhibition. Located on the first and second floors of Kapitain etxea, the display features the largest number of garments shown to date, with 39 outfits dating from 1740 to 1950.
On the first floor, visitors can explore the exhibition “From Rococo to Empire: Fashion and Power in Transition,” which explains how the French Revolution drastically changed clothing styles. This section showcases the oldest costume collection owned by Jantziaren Zentroa: 18 original outfits from 1740–1810. It highlights the attire from the end of the Ancien Régime—the Rococo style worn by Queen Marie Antoinette of France—alongside garments from the Napoleonic Empire. During this transition, the female silhouette changed radically, shifting from silks embroidered with floral motifs to lightweight muslin. However, both eras shared a love for color, with pastel shades being the height of fashion. This is why light pink was chosen for the exhibition posters. Inside the gallery, these garments also bring an extraordinary brightness to the space.
The main room on the second floor displays 16 outfits from 1815 to 1915. Coming from France, the United Kingdom, the United States, and beyond, these diverse garments illustrate the rapid evolution of fashion over that century. Notably, visitors can see a duster coat and matching hat for car travel from the early 20th century. In the center of the room, a glass display case reveals the inner construction of a dress by Charles Frederick Worth, the English designer widely considered the father of haute couture. Visitors can appreciate the garment’s structure, cut, boning, and the original label featuring Worth’s signature.
The new presentation by Jantziaren Zentroa concludes in the small room on the second floor, which features five dresses from 1920–1950. Among them is a creation by the renowned haute couture designer Pedro Rodríguez.
The 2026-27 permanent exhibition will be open until the end of May. Visiting hours are Saturdays from 11:00 to 14:00 and 17:00 to 20:00, and Sundays and public holidays from 11:00 to 14:00. Admission is 4 euros.
Summer Guided Tours
On July 19th and August 30th at 12:00, Jantziaren Zentroa will host special summer guided tours of the permanent exhibition.
These tours cost 7 euros per person (6 euros for retirees). Since places are limited, prior registration is required. You can sign up by emailing jantziarenzentroa@errenteria.eus or by calling the Errenteria Tourism Office at +34 943 49 45 21.
