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Key figures

Origin and history

The Musée Monseigneur Pigneau de Behaine occupies a 17th century house, mentioned in 1628 by an act of sale. The building, rebuilt in the 18th century, became a presbytery in 1823 before being declared unhealthy in 1862. Father Jules Jardinier bought it back to make it a place of pilgrimage, adding a neo-Gothic facade adorned with the coat of arms of Monsignor of Adran. He installed painted canvases still visible today, laying the foundations of a future museum.

In 1905, the building was placed under receivership and threatened with destruction in 1910. André Salles, former inspector of the Colonies, intervened for his purchase by the Société de Géographie de Paris in 1911. Thanks to Indochina grants and private donations, the Society is creating a collection dedicated to Asia and developing spaces. The museum was inaugurated on June 1, 1914, exhibiting objects related to Asian civilizations and the memory of Pigneau de Behaine.

In 1953, the Société de Géographie de Paris transferred the building and its collections to the commune of Origny-en-Thiérache. The museum, labeled Musée de France, preserves family memories of the missionary, works on Southeast Asia and historical architectural elements. His interest also lies in his connection with the presumed home of Pigneau de Behaine, a major figure in the Franco-Asian trade.

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