Heritage, memory and landscape at the Musée d'Art Contemporain de la Haute-Vienne, Château de Rochechouart

Abstract

In this article, we analyze the Musée d’Art Contemporain de la Haute-Vienne, which is unique in that it is located in the Château de Rochechouart, a medieval building perched on a rocky promontory. Built in the 10th century, it has served multiple functions since coming into public ownership in the 19th century. Since 1985, it has housed the departmental museum of contemporary art for the Haute-Vienne region. In this institution, the collection connects with the historic building while connecting with a privileged natural setting. This museum emerged within the framework of the decentralization policies of the French Ministry of Culture and the incentive for the emergence of art centers throughout the French provinces, thanks to financial support from the State. The objective of this study is to analyze how the fundamental pillars of this project, which has heritage, landscape, and memorial value, are introduced, since the building was not only a witness to history but also a protagonist, after being looted during the French Revolution and housing the collection of Raoul Haussmann, the most represented artist in the collection, who found refuge in this department during his German exile.