Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Musée du Gévaudan was founded in 1820, when its first collections were installed on the second floor of the former Maison Consulaire de Mende. In 1866, a dedicated building was built by the Société des lettres to house these collections, which were enriched by acquisitions, donations from local scholars and objects from Lozerian archaeological excavations. The covered areas then include mineralogy, grassland, medallor and antiques, with an emphasis on regional archaeology (Javols, Banassac, La Canourgue).

In 1894, the museum was permanently transferred to this new building, where it remained until 1976. That year, Abbé Peyre, a conservative since 1969, sold the Carces district to acquire the Buisson de Ressouches hotel, formerly an electrical factory (1888–1974). This move allows us to enlarge the spaces and integrate major collections, such as a liturgical ensemble of the convent of the Visitation of Marvejols and lapidary rooms of the 14th to 16th centuries. The hotel, built in 1665, became the heart of the museum until its sale in the department of Lozère in 1995.

The current project, supported by the Occitanie Region and the DRAC, includes the rehabilitation of the private hotel and the "Salle des Fresques" (House Montesquieu), with an opening planned for 2022. The museum is distinguished by its heterogeneity and the quality of its works, mostly Lozerian, covering archaeology, sacred art, natural sciences and popular traditions. Its historic location, linked to St.Epine and ancient episcopal residences, strengthens its heritage anchor.

The themes covered range from Greek and Roman antiquities to contemporary art, numismatics, ethnology and paleontology. The museum benefits from the label Musée de France and is part of a regional heritage development network, with public partnerships (Department, State, Europe). His official address, 3 rue de l'Épine in Mende, recalls the religious history of the city, marked by the relic of the crown of Christ offered by Pope Urban V.

External links