Founded by a group of prominent figures associated with the Société des lettres, sciences et arts de l’Aveyron and housed in the former Jouéry mansion acquired by Maurice Fenaille, a pioneer of the oil industry, discerning collector, and patron of Rodin. The museum, spanning over 2,000 m², showcases the archaeology, art, and history of the Rouergue region, including the largest collection of menhir statues in Europe.
With seventeen menhir statues on display, the Fenaille Museum presents to the public the largest collection in France of large-scale prehistoric human representations. The most famous, the “Dame de Saint-Sernin,” has been exhibited in major European capitals.
Dating back nearly 5,000 years, these statues are a highlight of a visit that explores the history of Rouergue, from the very first traces of human presence in the region nearly 300,000 years ago to the early 17th century.
Sculpture serves as the central theme of a tour where more than 1,100 objects are displayed to the public across three floors, organized around four major periods: Prehistory, Antiquity, the Middle Ages, the 16th century, and the Renaissance.
In the surrounding galleries, numerous objects offer a glimpse into the lives of the people who created them: dwellings, burial sites, tools, and adornments.
Fenaille Museum
14, Place Raynaldy,
12000 Rodez
Tel.: 05.65.73.84.30
www.musee-fenaille.com
Translated with DeepL.com
(free version)
