Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Fenaille Museum was founded in 1837, when the Aveyron Society of Arts, Science and Arts decided to create a museum to gather various collections. As works quickly accumulate, the need for an exhibition space is felt. This project reflects local enthusiasm for the preservation of cultural and scientific heritage.

In 1929, Maurice Fenaille, patron and influential member of society, offered the institution a private hotel in the centre of Rodez: the Hotel de Jouéry. This building, located near the town hall, became the definitive seat of the museum, inaugurated in 1937, a hundred years after its foundation. The hotel's facades and roofs were classified as historical monuments in 1944, highlighting their architectural value.

The museum's collections cover a period from Paleolithic to 16th century, with a particular focus on regional archaeology. Masterpieces include Neolithic Menhir statues, Rutene objects, medieval sculptures and Renaissance tapestries. The collection of statues-menhirs, the most important in France, illustrates the daily life of the ancient populations of Rouergue. Maurice Fenaille, close to Auguste Rodin, also allowed the acquisition of sculptures of the famous artist, exhibited in permanent storage.

The museum also preserves objects related to ethnology, natural sciences and local history, reflecting the diversity of donations received since its creation. Today, approximately 25,000 pieces are his fonds, reflecting the generosity of the benefactors and the commitment of the Society of Letters, Science and Arts of Aveyron. The Hotel de Jouéry, with its classic architecture, offers a prestigious setting to these varied collections.

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