New exhibition route at the Sainte-Croix Museum in Poitiers: from shadow to light
Holy Cross Museum
Permanent route
How can we summarize thirteen centuries of excavations and discoveries? Long dedicated to the sole remains of religious buildings from the Romanesque period, the brand new route of the Musée Sainte-Croix takes us to the forefront of the early Middle Ages, retracing the thread of History until it catapults us in modern times, thanks to a selection of several hundred exceptional pieces. Faced with this marvelous treasure, perhaps you will linger on this 1500 year old stone, metal and garnet belt buckle, on this carved bone chess pawn, on the monumental recumbent figures of the lords of La Millière or on this golden iron pendant. Unless the medieval stained glass windows of Saint-Pierre Cathedral, bathed in natural light, capture your full attention...
FOCUS ON… The Grand’Goule
Do you know the myth of the Great Ghoul? According to legend, this winged monster with the ringed body of a reptile, the tail of a scorpion and the tongue of a viper, ventured into the underground passages of the Sainte-Croix convent several centuries ago to devour some unfortunate nuns... Neither the pleas nor the prayers of the nuns could stop the bloodthirsty beast, thirsty for blood, until the appearance of Radegonde, founder of the Sainte-Croix abbey and patron saint of Poitiers. This story has persisted over time, finally inspiring Jean Gargot to create this terrifying polychrome wooden sculpture three and a half centuries old, the only testimony that has managed to reach us...
HOLY CROSS MUSEUM
Permanent collections
61 rue Saint-Simplicien, 86000 Poitiers
More information here
