Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Victorian museum César Filhol has its origins in the initiative of the Friends of Annonay Society, founded in 1920 by César Filhol. The latter, surrounded by enthusiasts, devoted his life until 1941 to gathering historical objects from the region. In 1968, the collection was transferred to the municipality, which installed in the former royal bailiff, an 18th-century building successively housing a courthouse, a senate floor and prisons. The museum was inaugurated in 1973 after restoration work.

The collections cover various fields: archaeology (protohistory to medieval), fine arts (paintings, prints), ethnology (costumes, tools), and industrial history. A room reconstructs a 19th-century Victorian cuisine, while objects evoke local innovations, such as the flights of the Montgolfier brothers or the inventions of Marc Seguin (a suspended bridge, locomotive). The museum also houses remarkable religious pieces, such as a 17th century Christ and a 16th century Pietà.

The former bailiff, the seat of the court since 1700, was transformed after the Revolution. The building was abolished in 1795 for the benefit of Privas and remained in a commercial court until 1963. Prisons, active until the mid-20th century, were rarely used. This place charged with judicial and cultural history today hosts a museum labeled Museum of France, celebrating the Victorian heritage.

External links