Fenaille Museum founded in the Hôtel de Jouéry
The Fenaille Museum is situated in the historic Hôtel de Jouéry, on Place Eugène Raynaldy, next to the town hall of Rodez.
This elegant square occupies the site of the ancient Gallo-Roman forum of Segodunum, which, more than 2,000 years ago, surpassed the grandeur of the forums of Arles and Narbonne!
Today, only a modest section of wall remains, at the entrance to the underground parking garage situated at the corner of Rue des Garrigues Ricard and Rue des Nattes, directly opposite the museum entrance.
The museum owes its existence to the generosity of Maurice Fenaille, an industrialist who bequeathed the Hôtel de Jouéry to the city of Rodez to establish a museum dedicated to the archaeology and history of the Rouergue region.
The Hôtel de Jouéry was built in the 13th century and renovated in the 18th century. It is one of the oldest and most emblematic buildings in Rodez.
A museum dedicated to Rouergue
The Fenaille Museum is renowned for its exceptional collections dedicated to the Rouergue region.
It comprises two separate buildings: the historic Hôtel de Jouéry and a modern wing.
The upper floor of the new wing was specially designed to showcase the multitude of archaeological discoveries, including the famous statues-menhirs of Rouergue, a collection of paramount importance. The Fenaille Museum displays a remarkable collection of 17 of these impressive megaliths.
Carved more than 5,000 years ago, these sculptures are the oldest known life-size representations of human figures, the most famous being the Vierge de Saint-Sernin.
The second floor of the Fenaille Museum modern wing houses rich collections of Gallo-Roman artefacts, including numerous ceramics produced in the renowned workshops of La Gaufresenque-Millau.
The former entrance courtyard of the Hôtel de Jouéry, now covered by an elegant glass roof, provides a harmonious transition between the museum’s modern wing and the historic mansion.
Its magnificently sculpted old well and impressive Renaissance staircase, adorned with the heraldic symbols of the Jouéry family, offer a glimpse into the grandeur of the former Hôtel de Jouéry, which is dedicated to collections spanning the French Middle Ages and Renaissance.
The Fenaille Museum is undoubtedly a must-see for anyone exploring the city.
Department of Aveyron – Rodez – Hôtel de Jouéry – 14 place Raynaldy
Coordinates: Lat 44.349159 – Long 2.576434
