Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The municipal museum of local history of Marchiennes presents a rich collection covering several key periods, from the origins of the abbey founded in 630 by Adalbaud, Count of Douai, until its disappearance in 1790 during the French Revolution. The exposed remains include prehistoric tool fragments, Gallo-Roman testimonies, as well as architectural elements of the abbey, such as coat of arms, lapidary plans and fragments. These artifacts illustrate the rise of the city around this monastery, which played a central role in the region for more than a millennium.

The museum also covers important events such as the Battle of Denain in 1712 and the military careers of the Corbineau brothers, generals under Napoleon, including Juvénal, known for discovering a ford during the retreat of Russia. The collections extend to the two world wars, as well as to artistic works, including paintings by Hector Loseur (19th century) and memories of the surrealist painter Felix Labisse, born in Marchiennes in 1905. A relief plan of the city dated 1791 and an 18th century sundial, linked to Marceline Desbordes-Valmore, complete this set.

Finally, the museum highlights the crafts and industries of the past, as well as the old games, offering a complete panorama of local life throughout the centuries. The entrance pavilion, dating from 1748, is a remarkable vestige of the abbey and constitutes a major architectural point of interest. The topics discussed, ranging from archaeology to military history, make it an essential place of memory for the Hauts-de-France region.

External links