Autun is launching its site from the century

Autun (Saône-et-Loire). On the walls of the cells, we can still read the graffiti engraved by the prisoners. A red cross is gradually fading on the invitation of the infirmary, while the door of the visiting room is firmly locked. Empty of its detainees since 1956, Autun’s Panoptical Prison remains imbued with its prison past, on the three levels of its passageways adjoining the famous cathedral. A reallocated time in furnishings, then bought by the city in 2002, this example of circular prison architecture classified as a historic monument in 2017 is now at the heart of a large urban redevelopment project.

Talking about a simple “museum project” to evoke the site of the panoptics-museum Rolin, two adjoining establishments, seems insufficient: the overhaul of the whole unit three buildings that the architectural project of the November workshop intends to connect by the basement. Three monuments overlooking a central place in Autun, in the heart of the old episcopal district, and each carrying issues. The Hôtel du Chancellor Rolin, a historic museum case (closed since 2022) and the headquarters of the educational company, combines all the difficulties of a Renaissance mansion, with its levels of levels, its doors with low lintels and its rooms in a row. The former prison and the court (abandoned since 2009) are heritage brownfields to reinvest taking into account their history, especially for the panoptic.

A change of identity

“It is an unparalleled project in the region, some even say that it is too big for Autun, reports Gauthier Gimenez, deputy mayor responsible for culture and heritage. Ultimately, I would like this to become a place of life in the city, like the Dijon Museum of Fine Arts with its open courses. »» The museum director, Agathe Legros, has another model in mind: “It is a project of requalification on the scale of the city, like what the swimming pool was (Museum of Art and Industry) For Roubaix. The membership of the inhabitants to this project was remarkable. »» That of the Autunois was hitherto shy, even interrogative in the face of the years of preparatory studies and diagnostics, since the architectural competition was launched in 2018. “There was also a change of identity, after two years of discussion, Recalls Jean-Baptiste Rezvoy, who runs the project. The Rolin museum has become the “panoptic”, and this new name has imposed itself quite naturally. »»

Part of the works of the Rolin Museum (closed) is currently presented at the Natural History Museum in a temporary exhibition where we can see: the “Virgin Bulliot”, 15th century polychrome sculpture, the Eve temptation Or the fragments of the tomb of Saint Lazare, novel testimonies extracted from the neighboring cathedral … From Gallo-Roman mosaics to the small formats of the painter Nabi Maurice Denis, these “chosen wonders” (visible until August 27) cover the history of art with pieces unique by their history and their quality.

The Rolin museum now has external reserves, in an old rehabilitated tannery and preservation standards, a large hangar on three levels in which the works selected for the future course, still sleeping in their transport box, are marked with an orange sticker. Mûri for ten years, this permanent journey will be divided into two stages: a historic part, valuing the very rich local history of antiquity at the Revolution; An artistic journey, brushing a panorama of European art of Renaissance in the second 20th century.

The inauguration of these reservations on May 28, was doubled by the official launch of the Panoptique site: a real event for the city of 13,000 inhabitants. On this occasion, regional prefect, regional director of cultural affairs, departmental and regional vice-presidents followed one another on the platform installed near the old prison, each confirming with enthusiasm notable financial commitments in a period of lean budgetary cows: 50 % of the 20 million euros in the global operation for the State, 20 % for the Burgundy-Franche-Comté region.

But, even after the 4 % abundant by Europe, the rest for the city remains considerable: “It is a huge effort, which implies choices, explains Gauthier Gimenez. We need to be financially solid to carry out this project, and we have received a green light from the Regional Court of Accounts that reassured us. »»

Dynamics of rebound in a municipality in loss of speed, accelerated tourism for a city which does not attract as many visitors as its neighbor Beaune, this project is seen by partner communities as a real lever for development of the territory. “One of my first missions was to define budgetary architecture, relates Jean-Baptiste Rezvoy. All of these partnerships are established in 2016 that allow you to finance the project today. »» The total budget is however based on the prices of 2020: the execution of the second phase, which provides for the development of temporary exhibition halls in the old court, may require an extension.

A place for the prison in the visit route

For the time being, the CAP remains fixed on 2028 for delivery of the first phase, consisting of the restoration of the Rolin hotel and the prison, and in the creation of traffic spaces focused on the panoptic to connect the parts of this heterogeneous set. If, in the private mansion, the collections will find their rooms, the circular prison will be visited as a monument. “The prison has found its place in the course, indicates the museum director. We will avoid too museum, with four visible and thematized cells. We have greatly refined our knowledge of the building: archaeological diagnosis, work on the archives of the house of oral heritage of Burgundy … It is a place which is not trivial, and which will be presented for itself. »» At the top of the rotunda, the old walking lessons will become a heritage interpretation center, and a belvedere will offer a unique point of view on the city and the Romanesque cathedral. “We are fortunate to find a useful utility for a unusable building!” »»slips the project director.