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Key figures

Origin and history

The Laon Museum of Art and Archaeology, founded in 1861, is the city's main museum. It has been installed since 1891 in the former Templars Commandory, whose chapel dates back to the 12th century. Labelled museum of France, it presents various collections, ranging from regional and Mediterranean archaeology to fine arts, with works dating from prehistory to Renaissance.

Fine arts collections include paintings from Flemish, Dutch, Italian and French schools (15th-18th centuries), as well as a rare 15th century regional panel sometimes attributed to Colart de Laon. The museum also preserves works by artists such as Herri Met de Bles, François Desportes, and Hubert Robert. A graphic art background brings together works by Maurice Quentin de La Tour, Eugène Delacroix and Pierre Méjanel.

The archaeological department exhibits regional objects (jewels, weapons, dishes) from prehistoric to Renaissance. The legacy of Paul Marguerite de La Charlonie has enriched the museum with an exceptional Mediterranean collection, with nearly 1,700 Greek pieces (vases, figures, sculptures), one of the most important in France after the Louvre. Roman, Egyptian and Cypriot antiquities complete this set.

The chapel of the former Commandery, located in the museum garden, bears witness to its Templar origin. The site thus combines medieval architectural heritage with artistic treasures, offering a unique cultural panorama in the Hauts-de-France.

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