Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Musée d'art et d'histoire de Saint-Lô came into being in 1835, when the Société d'Agriculture, Archaeology and Natural History de la Manche founded the Musée des Beaux-Arts. This encyclopaedic museum, typical of the 19th century, quickly enriched with donations from local aristocratic families, such as those of La Tour du Pin (1838) and Lebrun (1840). Its various collections include paintings, sculptures, archaeological objects, numismatic pieces and natural history specimens. At the end of the 19th century, a new building was built on Havin Street to house these cultural treasures.

The Second World War marks a tragic turning point for the museum. In June 1944, the bombing destroyed the building and much of the collections. Although works of art were evacuated as early as 1939, losses remained considerable, especially for natural history and numismatic sections. In 1958, the museum temporarily moved to the new city hall of Saint-Lô. Its renewal is driven by major donations, such as those of Octave Feuillet (1950), Jean Follaine (1991) and Sergio de Castro (2006), which allow to enrich its holdings, especially in 19th century landscapes, acquired through war damage.

In 1987, under the leadership of Mayor Jean Patounas, a vast cultural centre was built to permanently house the museum, as well as a media library, a drawing school and community premises. Inaugurated in 1989, this contemporary building, designed by architect Eugene Leseney, becomes a major cultural equipment. Its innovative museum path, punctuated with patios and light games, evokes a walk in the streets of Saint-Lô. Among its assets are tapestries from the 16th to the 20th centuries, including the famous hanging of the Loves of Bombauld and Macée (Bruges, 16th century), as well as portraits of the Matignon-Grimaldi family and a reconstruction of an apartment from the 1950s.

The museum also preserves remains of local monuments and a 15th century monetary treasure, while tracing the history of Saint-Lô, from its origins to Reconstruction. Labelled Museum of France, it today embodies both the memory and the cultural vitality of Normandy.

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