Gift of the Louvre années 1870 (≈ 1870)
Receipt of a copy of Milo's Venus.
1877
Museum Foundation
Museum Foundation 1877 (≈ 1877)
Created by Dr Boussard, last cantonal museum.
1982
Reactivation of the museum
Reactivation of the museum 1982 (≈ 1982)
Restoration and enrichment by Jean Millot.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Key figures
Docteur Boussard - Founder of the museum
Initiator of the project in 1877.
Jean Boussard - Architect
Son of Dr. Boussard, mentioned in history.
Jean Millot - Renovator of the museum
Reactivating and enriching collections around 1982.
Origin and history
The Musée en Florentinois is a cultural establishment located in Saint-Florentin, in the department of Yonne. It stands out as the last cantonal museum still in operation in this geographical area. Founded in 1877 under the impetus of Dr. Boussard, the father of the architect Jean Boussard, it has undergone a phase of renovation and significant expansion since 1982. Jean Millot, at the origin of this "reactivation", not only restored the existing collections but also expanded them considerably, giving them a new pedagogical and modern dimension.
The museum is now structured around four thematic rooms, offering a chronological journey from Florentinois, from prehistory to the 20th century. The exhibitions highlight the daily life, trades, traditions and customs of the region throughout the eras. Among the remarkable pieces are a plaster copy of the Venus de Milo, a gift from the Louvre in the 1870s, and a painting by Carlo Maiolini. The museum approach, both modern and accessible, aims to immerse the visitor in the environment and way of life of past generations.
The institution thus embodies a tangible link between local heritage and contemporary audiences, while preserving the collective memory of Saint-Florentin and its surroundings. Its evolution also reflects the dynamics of valorizing rural heritage in Burgundy-Franche-Comté, where the museums of territory play a key role in the transmission of regional history.