The Musée Le Secq des Tournelles of Rouen !!!

In my nostalgic saga of my family visits to wonderful places in my belle France, we found one sublime City, Take your time to visit Rouen, it is sublime to say the least and of course , a must to visit, The gorgeous city in the Seine-Maritime dept 76 of the region of Normandie. We have come here often many times, and glad to finally be back again, this time from the Morbihan breton ! . I have my wonderful memories with family visits and voilà even came to see something new, always surprises in my belle France, the memories lingered forever, I like to tell you about the wonderful Musée Le Secq des Tournelles of Rouen ,Hope you enjoy the post as I.

Rouen musee le Secq des Tournelles main floor jun23

The Musée Le Secq des Tournelles is a museum of ironwork. The building is located in the Vieux-Marché – Cathédrale district, in the immediate vicinity of the Saint-Godard Church and the Museum of Fine Arts (see posts). This museum brings together the most beautiful pieces of Rouen art. About 16,000 pieces, from the Gallo-Roman era to the 19C, are presented, touching on all registers, from monumental applications (grids, banisters, locks, signs) to furniture, including scientific instruments and jewelry.

Rouen musee le Secq des Tournelles main floor to exit jun23

It was founded in 1921. It occupies the former Saint-Laurent church dating from the 15-16C. It contains a collection of ironwork bequeathed by Henri Le Secq des Tournelles and started in 1862 by his father Henri Le Secq. a pioneer of photography who, in charge of immortalizing historical monuments, recovers the ironwork promised for destruction by Haussmann. Result: the largest collection of old ironwork in the world! The old church had housed within its walls from 1911 to 1920 the Norman Art Museum which already included part of the collection of Le Secq des Tournelles.

Rouen musee le Secq des Tournelles back wrough iron grills jun23

Rouen musee le Secq des Tournelles wrought iron grilles pose jun23

You will discover ,see these grids, ramps,signs or finely decorated staircases, sometimes extravagant locks, keys and knockers, scientific instruments, sewing or cutlery objects, and jewels, etc, The fields of ironwork are vast. The Le Secq des Tournelles museum offers a dive into this impressive know-how, a discovery of the technical virtuosity of iron craftsmen and a step back in time in the field of work, everyday life or ornaments of yesteryear.

The Saint-Antoine chapel was erected as a church dedicated to Saint Laurent in 1024, The Saint-Laurent parish was abolished in 1791 in favor of the neighboring Saint-Godard parish. The disused Saint-Laurent church was then used by the Jacobins club. Sold as national property on January 4, 1803 to an individual, it became a shed and stable and remained in the hands of individuals until the end of the 19C, On the occasion of the Norman millennium celebrations in 1911, hosting an exhibition of Norman art and archeology, In 1893, it was bought by the city of Rouen.

Rouen musee Le Secq des Tournelles front former ch St Laurent jun23

The former St Laurent church has seven bays and two aisles. Each side chapel benefits from a personal roof, which gives the monument a singular and very welcoming exterior profile (although it is hidden by trees in summer). These chapels are adorned with a pretty balustrade. The one next to the western portal still bears its Gothic letters. The chevet, with its elegant balustrades, is still intact. Saint-Laurent was the parish of the nobility, the judiciary and the bar. From the 15C to the 17C, the treasurers of the church were all titled people: nobles, presidents of parliaments, attorneys general, public prosecutors, etc. In 1791, Saint-Laurent, unlike Saint-Godard, was not on the list of churches retained as a parish by the Constituent Assembly under the French revolution. Indeed, the Rouen authorities wanted to follow the prescriptions of the National Assembly which, in the event of conflict between churches, gave preference to the larger ones. Saint-Laurent is therefore closed to worship in favor of Saint-Godard. In 1921, the Le Secq des Tournelles museum, dedicated to ironwork, moved there.

It is located at Rue Jacques-Villon, Opening days/hours are from 14h to 18h. Closed Tuesdays, Jan 1, May 1, November 1 and 11 and December 25, Free admission to permanent collections.

Rouen musee Le Secq des Tournelles former ch St Laurent jun23

The City of Rouen on the musée Le Secq des Tournelles: https://rouen.fr/ferronnerie

The Rouen tourist office on the museum Le Secq des Tournelles:https://en.visiterouen.com/offers/musee-le-secq-des-tournelles-rouen-en-3973770/

There you go folks, a dandy nice new found Musée Le Secq des Tournelles of Rouen !!,  one to be visit for sure. one of the places to see in wonderful Rouen. Again, hope you enjoy the post as I.

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!

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