Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Abbatial Tower Museum was founded in 1950 by Raymond Lebacqz, who bequeathed a major collection of 18th-century almond earthenware. This legacy was the basis of current collections, focusing on religious art and local crafts. The institution gradually expanded through acquisitions and donations, notably after the appointment of a curator in 1979, marking a turning point in its museum development.

The museum is housed in the former abbey tower of Saint-Amand, a 17th-century building bearing the fascists of the disappeared abbey. Its collections cover several fields: faiences of Dorez, Desmoutiers and Fauquez (XVIII–XX century), contemporary ceramics, and a collection dedicated to campanary art, reflecting a strong regional tradition. The label Musée de France underlines its heritage importance, while its official address links it to Saint-Amand-les-Eaux, a neighbouring commune.

The interest of the museum also lies in its evocation of the abbey of Saint-Amand, of which it preserves material and artistic traces. Pre-industrial earthenware and liturgical objects offer a panorama of local know-how, from the Old Regime to the modern era. Geographical accuracy remains approximate (level 5/10 depending on the sources), but its anchoring in the Hauts-de-Frances and its link with abbey history make it a key place to understand the northern heritage.

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