Timeline

Origin and history

The Musée d'Art et d'Archéologie d'Aurillac was founded in 1853, gradually enriching itself thanks to donations, bequests, purchases and deposits of the State. Its installation in a 17th century visitandine convent, later transformed into a national stud, gives it a remarkable historical setting. The collections reflect this dual identity, combining religious heritage and local industrial heritage.

The museum is distinguished by its rich archaeological collection, complemented by the Parry fonds, a unique collection of photographs covering more than a century of Aurillacian life. These visual archives, composed of glass plates and soft negatives, document the urban, social and artisanal evolution of the city, notably through the umbrella industry, which reached its peak in the 1920s with an annual production of more than one million units.

The museum's fine arts collections, combining paintings and sculptures from the 17th to 20th centuries, offer a complementary artistic panorama. They add to the testimonies about the local industrial tradition, illustrating the work of the workers, the styles of umbrellas made, and the economic impact of this activity on Aurillac. The ensemble forms a cultural heritage that is both diverse and deeply rooted in regional history.

Today labeled Museum of France, the establishment located at 37 rue des Carmes continues its mission of preserving and valuing the heritage, while relying on various documentary sources, including Monumentum archives and internal data. Its address, in the department of Cantal, makes it a central place for the discovery of historical Auvergne.

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