Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Rochelais Museum of Protestant History, founded in 1931 by Pastor Samuel Eynard, is dedicated to the history of Protestantism in La Rochelle and the region. Set in an annex to the Protestant temple at 2 rue Saint-Michel, it was completely renovated in 1995 to offer a more functional space. His collections, mainly gathered by Samuel Eynard, include works by Jean Calvin and documents tracing the evolution of Protestantism from the Reformation to the contemporary era.

The museum is structured around three thematic rooms: the first deals with the dissemination of Protestant ideas during the Renaissance and the Reformation, the second covers persecutions and the Desert period after the revocation of the edict of Nantes, while the third presents the modern and contemporary history of local Protestantism. A library preserves rare books, such as psalmists, Bibles, and 18th-century sermons smuggled into La Rochelle.

The building, a former convent of the Recollets built at the end of the 17th century, is distinguished by its two-storey facade, surmounted by a triangular pediment and illuminated by a large window. The museum, labeled "Musée de France", highlights engravings, portraits and objects evoking regional religious history, enriched by parish archives and later deposited manuscripts.

The building, classified as a historical monument associated with the Protestant temple, offers a unique setting with an interior garden. The collections, originally exhibited in 1931, were transferred to their current premises in 1995, benefiting from modern design while preserving their heritage and educational vocation.

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