Centre international d'art et du paysage de Vassivière

The Centre international d'art et du paysage is a contemporary art museum on an island in an artificial lake, featuring modern buildings designed by architects Aldo Rossi and Xavier Fabre. A lighthouse and linear gallery structure form the core of the facility, which extends across the island.

The site began in 1985 as an outdoor sculpture museum before developing into a complete art center. The museum buildings themselves opened in 1989 and reached their final form in 1991.

The sculpture park invites visitors to walk among artworks that blend with the natural landscape rather than dominating it. These installations from established contemporary artists change how people see and experience the surrounding terrain.

The site is easily walkable with clear paths connecting throughout the area and accessible to people of different mobility levels. Comfortable shoes are recommended since there is considerable walking involved to explore the island grounds.

The center maintains an artist residency program in an old castle where creative practitioners work simultaneously for extended periods. These working spaces occasionally allow visitors to encounter ongoing artistic processes firsthand.

Location: Beaumont-du-Lac

Official opening: 1980

Website: http://ciapiledevassiviere.com

GPS coordinates: 45.80194,1.86611

Latest update: December 12, 2025 09:03