Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Musée des Cordeliers found its origins in the creation, in 1923, of the Société d'archéologie de Saint-Jean-d-Angely and its region. The purpose of this association, governed by the 1901 Act, was to study and preserve local monuments of an artistic or historical nature, while establishing a museum to preserve objects that could not remain in situ. In 1935, the Arthur Bonnet associative museum moved to the private mansion of Hausen (registered with the Historical Monuments in 1942), presenting various collections: architectural remains, archaeological finds, fine arts, religious objects, popular traditions, numismatics and weapons.

In 1997, an agreement between the Archaeology Society and the City of Saint-Jean-d-Angely resulted in the creation of a new museum, inaugurated in 2003 as the Musée des Cordeliers. It occupies the former hotel of the sub-prefects, built instead of a medieval convent of the Cordeliers, whose name it takes over. The museum, labeled Musée de France, offers a three-level course around a central staircase, combining permanent and temporary exhibitions, with a free entrance since 2010.

The museum is distinguished by its unique collection in France dedicated to the Citroën expeditions (1922–1932): the First Crossing of the Sahara (Touggurt-Tombouctou, 1922–1923), the Black Cruise (Central Africa, 1924–1925) and the Yellow Cruise (Asia, 1931–1932). These funds, from the donations of Louis Audouin-Dubreuil (second head of mission) and Maurice Penaud (chief engineer), include ethnographic objects, drawings by Alexander Iacovleff, and the Autochenille Silver Crescent, classified as a historical monument. The museum also covers local history through religious statues (XIIIth–XVIIIth centuries), Saintongeian furniture (XVIIth–XIXth centuries), and a collection of European weapons (XVIIth–early 19th century).

The permanent collections are structured around three major themes: the ethnography (Citroën expeditions), the decorative arts (furniture, ceramics, goldsmiths) and religious art (stone and polychrome wood sculptures). A space is devoted to the donations of the Archaeology Society, supplemented by targeted acquisitions of the city. The museum, renovated to offer modern spaces, highlights 1,300 m2 of exhibitions, combining local heritage and industrial adventurers.

The private hotel housing the museum, built at the end of the 19th century, is a former convent of medieval Cordeliers, then a school. Its facade and roof have been protected since 1942. The museum also preserves archaeological pieces (prehistory in medieval times), numismatic collections, and works of modern art. His museographic approach, halfway between Museum of Fine Arts and Museum of History, makes it an eclectic place, reflecting the diversity of Saintonge heritage.

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