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Origin and history

The Château-Gontier Museum of Art and Archaeology, also known as the Fouquet Hotel, is a municipal museum located in a former mansion in the city centre. Founded in 1868, it owes its existence to Aristide Boullet-Lacroix, a local art lover who offered the city archaeological pieces from Greece and Italy in the mid-19th century. The building, built in 1618 on the site of an old palm game, belonged to François Fouquet de la Bouchetfoliere, the grand-cousin of the famous superintendent Nicolas Fouquet. Its architecture, marked by dorical elements and characteristic details from the early seventeenth century, makes it a remarkable example of the aristocratic habitat of the time.

The museum's eclectic collections evoke the atmosphere of a cabinet of curiosity. Archaeology is well represented with Greek, Roman and Egyptian artifacts, including marble funeral vases, ceramics and antique coins. The medieval background includes religious sculptures, such as a 16th-century marble Virgin or a 15th-century wooden Santa Martha, as well as liturgical objects. Fine arts are illustrated by Dutch, Italian and French paintings from the 16th and 17th centuries, with notable works such as a painting by Charles Le Brun or a drawing by Camille Claudel. Local art is represented by watercolours by Louis Rénier, while a contemporary section exhibits more than 200 pieces (paintings, bronzes) donated by the collector Pierre Logé.

In addition to its permanent collections, the museum houses a media library and a documentation centre, strengthening its role as a place for the preservation and transmission of heritage. The decorative arts, Asian and Malagasy civilizations, as well as musical instruments and military objects complete this varied ensemble. The Fouquet Hotel, through its history and collections, embodies both the 19th century local patronage and the diversity of cultural influences that have marked the region.

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