Carpet weaving began in Aubusson as early as the 15th century. Flemish weavers settled here and in neighbouring Felletin. They honed their skills over the centuries and turned the small town on the Creuse into the centre of French tapestry. In 2009, UNESCO declared this art an intangible cultural heritage. Colourful flags flying over the main street and faded advertising signs from old workshops are reminders of the 600-year-old tradition. But anyone who thinks that carpet weaving is a dusty art that only served as wall decoration in cold castles is wrong. In Aubusson, people are determinedly working on the future of this craft. The Cité internationale de la Tapisserie presents a whole universe of artistic designs and modern trends in carpet art.
Cité internationale de la Tapisserie
The Cité Internationale de la Tapisserie is more than just a museum: it preserves the heritage of tapestry weaving and at the same time promotes innovation, training and creative developments. Without the craftsmanship of weavers, colourists, cartonists, artists and the regional wool spinning industry, tapestry would have no future. The Cité links all these trades in its projects. A tour of the exhibition and a look inside the in-house studio show just how lively and modern the art of tapestry is today.
Fantasy heroes in large format
Aubusson weaves Tolkien, a cycle of modern works that takes the old carpet art into the future began in 2017. The adventures of Bilbo and the hobbits or, from 2019, scenes from Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away have earned the Cité an international reputation. With this concept, the museum appeals to visitors of all ages and conveys the history, technique and significance of tapestry through exhibitions, guided tours and workshops.
Another example of the Cité’s creative and captivating approach is the project to mark the 150th anniversary of George Sand’s death in June 2026. No red carpet will be rolled out for the famous romantic, prolific writer and champion of women’s rights. Instead, the Hommage á George Sand is an unconventional work: three-dimensional, monumental, beautiful. 23 metres long, over two metres high – created by women from the region.
Contemporary art
The Cité internationale de la Tapisserie invites artists from all over the world to redesign the centuries-old art of tapestry with modern ideas and current trends. Temporary exhibitions, changing annual projects and artist residencies encourage the creation of innovative works and fresh approaches to design. The Cité has always favoured close collaboration between craftsmen and contemporary artists. Famous names such as Le Corbusier, Man Ray, Vasarely and Braque have already designed modern tapestries for Aubusson.
The Cité Internationale de la Tapisserie deliberately opens up the arts and crafts to new techniques, social issues and contemporary art. In June 2026, the exhibition year in Aubusson will be dedicated to the memory of the writer and feminist George Sand. A 23-metre-long tapestry, Hommage à George Sand, will be presented on a mobile, free-standing frame. This mobile installation is an example of how the Cité continues to develop tapestry as a living art form.
The research trip was supported by Nouvelle-Aquitaine Tourism and Creuse Tourisme
