Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Grand Atelier, formerly known as the Municipal Museum of Sully Hotel, is housed in the former Châtellerault Armaments Factory, an industrial site built between 1886 and 1887. This building originally housed a assembly and finishing workshop, before becoming a space dedicated to the conservation and enhancement of the local heritage. Since 1969, the place has evolved from the Museum of Technology and Automobile to the Auto Bike Museum, finally adopting its current name, reflecting its vocation as a museum of art and industry.

The Grand Atelier's collections cover a variety of fields, from fine arts to history, photography and technology. They illustrate the identity of the Châtelleraudese country, from the archaeological remains of the Gallo-Roman theatre of the Old Poitiers to the works of local artists who acquired a national reputation, such as sculptures by Aimé October (1868-1943) or paintings by Henri Doucet (1883-1915). The museum also highlights emblematic cultural elements, such as the zincs of the Black Cat Cabaret, founded by Rodolphe Salis, a child of the country.

The museum is labeled "Musée de France" and is located at 3 rue Clément Krebs in Châtellerault, in the Vienne department, in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. Its interest lies as much in its architectural heritage, linked to the industrial history of the city, as in its eclectic collections, which offer a complete panorama of local history, from antiquity to today. The site is today a major cultural place, accessible via the website of the community of Greater Châtellerault.

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