Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Rupert de Chièvres Museum is the second largest museum in Poitiers, located in an old mansion in the 3rd quarter of the 17th century, in the city centre, between the prefecture and the town hall. Originally, the building housed the Augustine convent before becoming a private residence. His name pays tribute to François Radegonde Rupert de Chièvres, a 19th-century annuitant who has built up a rich collection of works of art, including paintings from Dutch and Flemish schools, as well as furniture and faience. The museum completes the collections of the Musée Sainte-Croix by covering the periods from the 16th to the 18th century, in an intimate atmosphere reminiscent of that of a collector's house.

Several elements of the museum and its surroundings are protected as historical monuments. The portal of the former Augustine church, rebuilt in 1895 at the entrance of the museum, was classified in 1895. The reliquary monument of Sainte-Victoire-Maroze, originally located in the former Sainte-Catherine barracks and moved to the museum garden in 1932, was classified in 1926. Finally, the Pyramid of Saint-Hilaire, a small memorial demolished and awaiting reconstruction, was inscribed in 1952. These protections reflect the heritage value of the site, combining architectural history and artistic collections.

The museum has experienced several phases of closure for works. In May 2007, it reopened after renovations aimed at improving the lighting of works, creating a 120-piece earthenware cabinet and renovating collections. However, since early 2009, it has been closed again for a collection site and potentially to rethink its museum journey. These successive closures reflect the continuous efforts to preserve and enhance this heritage, while adapting its spaces to contemporary museum norms.

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