Formerly located in La Chèze, commune of Chourgnac, in the birthplace of Orélie-Antoine de Tounens, 1st King of Araucania and Patagonia, the Museum of the Kings of Araucania and Patagonia is today taken care of by the town hall of Tourtoirac after having been governed until very recently by Prince Philippe of Araucania.
This Museum, mentioned in the French directory of historical places, houses pieces and documents relating to the Kingdom of Araucania and Patagonia and the Mapuche people.
Antoine de Tounens, son of a Perigordian peasant, avowed Perigordian born in 1825 in Chourgnac d'Ans embarked on a voyage to Patagonia and proclaimed himself King in 1860, under the name of Orélie-Antoine 1er.
Supported by the Mapuche Indians, a people of pre-Columbian origin who saw in him a hope of autonomy and proclaimed him King of Araucania and Patagonia.
However, he was expelled by the Chilean police in 1862 and twice failed in his attempts to re-conquer the country.
He was buried in Tourtoirac, a few kilometres from La Chèze.
Prince Philippe Boiry of Araucania, the heir in title, has put together a collection that tells us about this extraordinary adventure just a stone's throw from the house where this daring king lived his last years.
Museum of the Kings of Araucania and Patagonia
Abbey Park
24390 Tourtoirac
Tel: 05 53 51 12 17
http://www.araucanie.com
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(free version)
