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All French heritage classified by regions, departments and cities

  2. Divers
  3. Nouvelle-Aquitaine
  4. Haute-Vienne
  5. 87000 Limoges

  6. Former bishopric

Former bishopric à Limoges en Haute-Vienne

Former bishopric

    1 Place de l'Évêché
    87000 Limoges
Ownership of the municipality
Museums of France
Miscellaneous
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Crédit photo : Original téléversé par Lucas Destrem sur Wikipédia - Sous licence Creative Commons

Timeline

Temps modernes
Révolution/Empire
XIXe siècle
Époque contemporaine
1800
1900
2000
1766-1774
Building of the palace
1905
Nationalization of the building
1912
Opening of the museum
2006-2010
Major renovation
2019
Classification of gardens
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui

Heritage classified

Evêché (old): by order of 16 September 1907; The terraces, the gardens and the orangery, in full, of the bishopric of Limoges, excluding the building of reception of the museum built between 2006 and 2010, as shown in red on the plan annexed to the decree (cad. EO 348): inscription by decree of 14 August 2019

Key figures

Joseph Brousseau - Architect Designer of the Episcopal Palace (1766-1774).
M. du Plessis d'Argentré - Sponsor Bishop responsible for the construction.
Véronique Notin - Curator and Director Directed the renovation (2006-2010).
Philippe-Charles Dubois - Contemporary architect Author of the renovation of the museum.
Francis Chigot - Glass Author of exposed Art Nouveau glass windows.

Origin and history

The former bishopric of Limoges, now museum of fine arts, is an episcopal palace built between 1766 and 1774 by architect Joseph Brousseau. He was commissioned by Bishop of the Plessis of Argentré, inspired by the castle of Beauvais and embodied classical architecture in the city. The U-shaped granite building includes a chapel with 18th and 19th century décor, as well as French-style gardens.

Nationalized in 1905 under the Third Republic, the palace became a municipal museum in 1912. It preserves various collections: Limous enamels, paintings, sculptures, Egyptian antiques and objects related to local history. The funds come from the old town halls and public buildings, forming the foundation of the museum as early as the 19th century.

A major renovation between 2006 and 2010, led by architect Philippe-Charles Dubois, modernises the spaces. The reserves are moved under the courtyard of honor, a temporary contemporary exhibition room is added, and the historical decorations (woodhouses, stuccos, chapel) are restored. Archaeological excavations in 2004 and 2006-2007 reveal remains ranging from the second to the eighteenth century, including ancient thermal baths and medieval cellars.

The museum houses one of the richest collections in the world, as well as Art Nouveau and Art Deco windows by Francis Chigot. The gardens, classified as Historic Monuments in 2019, overlook Vienna and complement this major cultural site in the centre-west of France.

Since 2010, the museum has offered temporary exhibitions, such as the one dedicated to Suzanne Valadon in 2020-2021 (annuled due to pandemic) or Francis Chigot in 2022-2023. These events reinforce its influence in the regional museum landscape.

External links

Page Wikipedia
Page Monumentum