Mastering the Fine Art of Tapestry
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only in France!
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with
Cresside Collette
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11th – 24th September 2017
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Discover the historical context and contemporary forms of this rich, tactile
medium as practiced for centuries in some of the most beautiful settings in the
world, and participate in a hands-on learning experience of this timeless art.
You will see the sublime high points of Mediaeval craftsmanship embodied in
the 15th C. suites of the Lady and the Unicorn and the 14th C. Apocalypse. In Paris you will tour the famed Royal Gobelins Workshop and delight in the
treasures of the Musée du Moyen Age. A visit to the historic centre of Angers to
see the Musée Lurçat will deepen your appreciation of the traditions and
techniques of tapestry that still inform the creation of modern works of art.
And for the first time we will be seeing the Musée Dom Robert in the spectacular
setting of the Abbaye – Ecole of Sorèze.
This exciting study tour will be rounded off with a three day workshop at the
Manoir du Bost in the heart of France to learn tapestry technique first hand.
Conducted by Cresside Collette, tapestry artist, scholar and teacher, it will
include day trips to nearby Aubusson and Felletin, the towns in the heart of the
Creuse that are synonymous with this craft.
La Dame à la Licorne
PARIS, 2 DAYS
DAY 1 Monday September 11th
Check into Hotel Central St. Germain, 3, Rue Champollion, 75005, Paris.
The Left Bank location is well situated for all our activities.
The Left Bank location is well situated for all our activities.
http://centralsaintgermain.com/
A walk around the corner brings us to the wonderful treasures of the Middle Ages
housed in the Musée du Moyen Age.
www.musee-moyenage.fr/ang/index.html
This year we will celebrate the sublime La Dame à la Licorne in its renovated
setting. Other suites of Mediaeval tapestries on view include The story of St.
Stephen, The Offering of the Heart and Aristocratic Life.
A free afternoon follows to experience the delights and galleries of this great city.
DAY 2 Tuesday September 12th
A free morning, then a special guided tour of the Gobelins Tapestry Workshop.
http://www.mobiliernational.culture.gouv.fr/en/practical-information/paris-
gobelins
The most important and long running workshop in the world situated in the 13th
arondissement, Manufacture des Gobelins was founded as a dye works in the
mid-15th century by Jean Gobelin. In 1662, Louis XIV purchased the
manufactory, and minister Colbert united all the royal artisans, creating a royal
tapestry and furniture works. It has specialised in tapestry from 1697.
ANGERS, 3 DAYS
DAY 3 Wednesday September 13th
Private coach to Angers. This historic town in the Loire Valley yields one of the
most exciting experiences of the tour, viewing the 100 metre long 14th C.
Apocalypse tapestry, the Book of Revelations made visible. Housed in the fortress
chateau it is an overwhelming sight.
After booking into a quaint country style hotel, http//www.hotel du mail we stroll through the Mediaeval town to make an afternoon visit to the Cathedral that houses a large collection of tapestries.
DAY 4 Thursday September 14tH
A morning visit to the Château to view the Apocalypse Tapestries.
Afterwards, a chance to explore the many delights of the garden and buildings.
An afternoon at the Musée des Beaux Arts that each year offers a variety of
changing exhibitions.
DAY 5 Friday September 15th
A stroll along the river to see Lurçat's answer to the magnificent Apocalypse, his
Song of the World suite of ten tapestries woven from the mid 1950s to the mid
1960s reflecting on the atom bomb, the apocalyptic event of the 20th C. They are
displayed in the heritage 12thC. St. John's Hospital.
Musée Jean Lurçat exhibits contemporary tapestry from around the world and
this year will be hosting the International Miniature Textiles exhibition – seventy
miniature textiles from around the world.
http://musees.angers.fr/langues-etrangeres/english/musee-jean-lurcat-et-de-la-
tapisserie-contemporaine/the-site/index.html
Château d'Angers
Lurçat's 'Song of the World'
TOULOUSE AND SORÈZE, 2 DAYS
DAY 6 Saturday September 16th
Private coach to the beautiful historic town of Toulouse. Check into the Hotel
Pullman Toulouse Centre that is a ten minute walk to the historic sites.
http://www.pullmanhotels.com/gb/hotel-1091-pullman-toulouse-
centre/index.shtml
Attractions include the Romanesque Basilica Saint-Sernin and the Cathédrale St.
Étienne that has a collection of thirty 16th and 17th century tapestries.
Dom Robert tapestry
DAY 7 Sunday September 17th
Day trip to the town of Sorèze to see the wonderful Musée Dom Robert and
Twentieth Century Tapestry housed in a Benedictine Abbey that dates from 754.
http://www.abbayeecoledesoreze.com/index.php?id=6244
The Mediaeval village of Sorèze is situated in natural parkland at the foot of ‘La Montaigne Noir’
BOURGANEUF AND AUBUSSON, 7 DAYS
DAY 8 Monday September 18th
Coach to the secluded Manoir du bost located near the town of Bourganeuf.
A week's accommodation in this splendid, secluded manor house in central
France offers a unique opportunity to learn the basics of Tapestry Weaving and
develop a real understanding of its brilliant technique. Beginners will learn to set
up a tapestry frame and weave basic shapes. More advanced students will be
encouraged to experiment with Mediaeval tapestry techniques such as hatching
to achieve colour gradations, and to adapt them to a contemporary style. Or just
relax, read, paint and draw in a beautiful setting.
All materials and looms provided. All meals catered by professional chef,
Valerie Lagorsse.
Le Manoir du Bost
DAY 9 Tuesday
September 19th
Workshop commences, full day
DAY 10 Wednesday September 20th
Day visit to Aubusson. www.aubusson.fr
Day visit to Aubusson. www.aubusson.fr
Located a thirty minute ride from the manoir, this pretty town in the heart of
France has existed on its weaving industry since the 14thC. Under the guidance of
Susanne Bouret, conservator of textiles and local resident, we will stroll its streets
and visit the individual ateliers open to the public as well as more formal centres.
Musée de la Tapisserie. www.cite-tapisserie.fr This exciting new gallery and
Centre for Tapestry opened on July 10th 2016, and shows a wonderful collection
of both historic and groundbreaking contemporary works.
Thierry Roger is the last traditional dyer of yarn in Aubusson.
www.aubusson-teinture.fr
Nadia Petkovic has recently set up her new
studio, ‘Atelier de la Lune.’
Chantal Chirac restores tapestry cartoons and runs a cartoon museum for their
display and preservation in a picturesque building on the Pont de la Terrade.
The conservation studio of Susanne Bouret is at the Terrade, next door to the
Chirac Musée de Carton.
France Odile Perrin-Crinere runs studio ‘Atelier A2.’ http://www.ateliera2.fr
DAY 11 Thursday September 21st
Full day workshop
Susanne Bouret’s conservation studio
Full day workshop
Susanne Bouret’s conservation studio
DAY 12 Friday September 22nd
We will travel to Felletin, a small town 10 km. from Aubusson to view the
historic workshop of Ateliers Pinton, www.ateliers-pinton.com one of two
remaining manufacturers that employs teams of weavers to make tapestries and
also produces rugs.
Ateliers Pinton
Église du Château
A lively street market operates on Friday mornings, so we will indulge in a picnic
lunch.
Then an afternoon visit to the Église du Chateau to see the annual tapestry
exhibition that incorporates the most innovative work produced in the previous
year.
And the Terrade family wool manufacturing plant that was established in 1912.
They also have a dyeshop that supplies all the tapestry yarn to Ateliers Pinton.
DAY 14 Saturday September 23rd
Full day Workshop
Farewell dinner with Susanne Bouret at the Manoir.
DAY 15 Sunday September 24th
Return to Paris by coach, end of tour.
TOUR DETAILS
Date and length of tour: 14 days starting and finishing in Paris from September
11th to 24th, 2017.
Cost: $4,699.00 (AUD) for twin share, $5,695.00 (AUD) for single room.
Group size: 7 minimum, 10 maximum.
Tour price includes:
All accommodation
All breakfasts
All museum and gallery entry charges specified in itinerary
All meals at the Manoir du Bost
Private coach transfer from Paris to Angers
Private coach transfer from Angers to Toulouse
Excursion from Toulouse to Sorèze
Private coach transfer from Toulouse to Bourganeuf
Two excursions to Aubusson and Felletin
Private coach transfer to Paris
French speaking guide in Aubusson, Felletin
Tutored 3 day tapestry workshop with Cresside Collette
Loom hire and materials.
Tour price does not include:
Airfare to and from Paris
Travel Insurance
Meals apart from breakfast, except at the Manoir
Travel Insurance
Meals apart from breakfast, except at the Manoir
Lunch at Aubusson and Felletin (2 days)
Hotels mentioned in the itinerary are subject to availability and others of similar
quality may be substituted. This itinerary has been prepared with the assistance of
Ian Jane at Bentleigh Travel who will be making all tour bookings.
BENTLEIGH TRAVEL CENTRE
Telephone: +61 3 9557 5898
Fax: +61 3 9557 4786
Shop 7, 271 - 275 Centre Road
P.O. Box 20, Bentleigh
Victoria 3204
Australia.
Australia.
Email: ian@bentleightravel.com.au
Tour designed and authored by Cresside Collette, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016,
2017.
Contact: cressidecollette@gmail.com
Read about the 2012 Tapestry Tour at tapestrytour.blogspot.com
