Orléanais Historical and Archaeological Museum

The Orléanais Historical and Archaeological Museum (French - Hôtel Cabu - Musée d'Histoire et d'Archéologie) is a local history museum at 22 rue de Charles Sanglier in Orléans.[1] It was founded in 1823 by André Gaspard Parfait, count of Bizemont-Prunelé and assistant mayor of Orléans and includes the Neuvy-en-Sullias Hoard, a collection of medieval objects and other objects on the history of the city and area. It is a Museum of France.

History

It first opened to the public in 1825, initially housed in the hôtel des Créneaux (now an annexe to the municipal music conservatoire).[2][3] It was named the 'musée historique' in 1855[2] and in 1862 moved to its present home, sometimes known as the 'house of Diane de Poitiers'.[2][4]

Most of its collections were destroyed by a fire caused by German bombing in June 1940.[2] It was only restored in the 1960s, with the collections that had been moved out before the bombing moved back in. It reopened to the public in 1966.[2]

Collections

Its three main holdings are:[1]

  • The Neuvy-en-Sullias Hoard, a collection of bronze statues from the Gallic and Gallo-Roman periods
  • Medieval and Renaissance architecture - a group of architectural fragments from buildings in the region, such as the capitals from Fleury Abbey and stucco work from Carolingian oratory at Germigny-des-Prés
  • History of Orléans and the Loire valley - including the navigable portions of the river Loire and Joan of Arc (including the 'échevins' portrait of her)

References (in French)

  1. ^ a b "Musée historique". coeur-de-france.com. Cœur de France. Retrieved 8 December 2010..
  2. ^ a b c d e "Le musée historique et archéologique de l'Orléanais". musees.regioncentre.fr. Association des personnels scientifiques des musées de la région Centre. Retrieved 8 December 2010..
  3. ^ "L'hôtel des Créneaux - base Merimee entry".
  4. ^ "L'hôtel Cabu - base Merimee entry".
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