Aubusson, Creuse

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Coordinates: 45°57′25″N 2°10′06″E / 45.957, 2.16833

Commune of Aubusson
Location
Aubusson, Creuse (France)
Aubusson, Creuse
Administration
Country France
Department Creuse
Arrondissement Aubusson
Canton Aubusson
Intercommunality Aubusson-Felletin
Mayor Michel Moine
(2001-2008)
Statistics
Elevation 416 m–608 m
(avg. 512 m)
Land area¹ 19.21 km²
Population²
(2005)		 4,239
 - Density 243/km² (2005)
Miscellaneous
INSEE/Postal code 23008/ 23200
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
2 Population sans doubles comptes: residents of multiple communes (e.g. students and military personnel) only counted once.
France

Aubusson (in Occitan Lo Buçon or Le Buçon, Le Beçon) is a commune in the Creuse department in central France.

Contents

[edit] Geography

Aubusson is situated in the southern part of the département, at the confluence of the Creuse River and the Beauze.

[edit] History

Aubusson has existed at least since the Gallo-Roman period. [1]. The Camp des Châtres, within the town’s boundaries, for a long time considered a Roman fort, actually dates back a little further, to the Iron Age.

The town was known as Albuciensis in 936 and under the name Albuconis in 1070. The name possibly originates from a name of a man, Albucius [2] Other scholars claim the name is from a Celtic word meaning craggy.

[edit] Population

Population Growth
1962 1968 1975 1982 1990 1999 2005
5669 5934 6227 5710 5097 4662 4239
Census count starting from 1962 : Population without double counting

[edit] Tapestry

Aubusson tapestry in the Musée Nissim de Camondo, Paris.
Aubusson tapestry in the Musée Nissim de Camondo, Paris.

It is well-known for its tapestry and carpets, which have been famous throughout the world since the 14th Century. Its origins were born with the arrival of weavers from Flanders, who took refuge in Aubusson around 1580. There is a famous collection of Aubusson tapestries at Vallon-Pont-d'Arc. The style of the tapestries produced has changed through the centuries, from scenes of green landscapes through to hunting scenes. In the 17th Century, the Aubusson and Felletin workshops were given "Royal Appointment" status. A downturn in fortunes came after the French revolution and the arrival of wallpaper. However, tapestry made something of a comeback during the 1930s, with artists such as Cocteau, Dufy, Dali, Braque, Calder and Picasso being invited to Aubusson to express themselves through the medium of wool. Aubusson tapestry still thrives today, preserving a range of traditional skills.

Aubusson Tapestry

[edit] Places to visit

[edit] Musée Départemental de la Tapisserie

Created in 1981, the museum exhibits nearly 600 years of tapestry creation and production. This rich collection is composed of 17th, 18th and 19th Century tapestries and carpets. As well as works from its own collection, there are also regular exhibitions of tapestries from around the world, showcasing works right up to the present day.

[edit] Centre Culturel Jean Lurcat, Avenue des Lissiers

[edit] Maison du Tapissier

This is a permanent exhibition that is staged in an ancient Creusois house in Aubusson. The interior tells the history and traditions of tapestry as well as showing furniture of the period.

[edit] Historical Monuments

  • The Clock Tower
  • The old town (ancient buildings)
  • Sainte-Croix church
  • Ruins of the chateau (also called le Chapitre)

[edit] Rulers

In the medieval period, Aubusson was a vice-county. Its rulers were:

  • Ranulf I  ?-934
  • Robert I 934-942
  • Renaud I 942-958 (son of Ranulf I)
  • Ranulf II Cabridel 958-1031
  • Ranulf III 1031-1060
  • Renaud III 1060-1069
  • William I 1069-1106
  • Renaud IV 1106-?
  • Renaud V The Leper  ?-1185
  • Guy I 1185- ?
  • Renaud VI  ?-1249
  • Ranulf V 1249-c. 1265
  • William II (heir) 1263, lord of La Borne, La Feuillade, Monteil-au-Vicomte, Poux, Pintarion and Damoiseau (1317), started a noble line that continued with his son Renaud VIII (1317-1353) and his successors.

c.1263/1266 the vice-county was sold to the count of La Marche.

[edit] People associated with Aubusson

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Dominique Dussot. Archeological Map of Gaul - The Creuse. Academy Académie des inscriptions et belles lettres. Paris 1989.
  2. ^ Marcel Villoutreix, The names of places of the Limousin, history of a region, Association des Antiquités Historiques du Limousin, p 61, Dismiss 2002.

[edit] External links

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