Orbigny-Bernon Museum, History museum in La Rochelle, France.
The Orbigny-Bernon Museum was housed in a Neo-Renaissance mansion built in 1893, containing multiple floors with collections focused on local history and decorative arts. The building itself displayed the architectural preferences of wealthy families from the late 1800s.
The museum was founded in 1917 after Mrs. Orbigny-Bernon donated the building to the city as a memorial to her late husband. This gift allowed the city to establish an important center for preserving its local heritage.
The second floor displayed an extensive collection of East Asian objects, including Chinese and Japanese works gathered by diplomat Charles de Chassiron. These pieces reflected the global trade connections and personal interests of the wealthy family living in the city.
The museum closed in September 2012 and its collections were moved to the Museum of Fine Arts in La Rochelle. Visitors interested in the holdings can now view them at this new location.
The basement contained medieval remains, including a 12th-century tomb uncovered during regional archaeological excavations. This discovery showed that the site had played an important role in the city's history long before the mansion was built.
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