In the carpet universe of Aubusson

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.

Hauptstraße von Aubousson mit Straßenschmuck, der an die Geschichte der Tapisserie in der Region erinnert. 2009 als immaterielles Kulturerbe der UNESCO anerkannt, verkörpert die Aubusson-Tapisserie eine über 600-jährige Tradition feiner Handwerkskunst und künstlerischen Designs, die bis heute gepflegt und weiterentwickelt wird / © Foto: Georg Berg
Main street of Aubousson with street decorations reminiscent of the history of tapestry / © Photo: Georg Berg

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.

Führung durch die Ausstellungsräume der Cité internationale de la tapisserie Aubusson. Hier vor einem Motiv aus „The Hobbits“ basierend auf einer Illustration von J.R.R. Tolkien. Erstellt 2019 vom Atelier Guillot in Aubusson, 3 Meter x 4 Meter / © Foto: Georg Berg
Guided tour through the exhibition rooms of the Cité internationale de la tapisserie Aubusson. Here in front of a motif from “The Hobbits” based on an illustration by J.R.R. Tolkien. Created in 2019 by Atelier Guillot in Aubusson, 3 metres x 4 metres / © Photo: Georg Berg

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.

Wandteppich „Old Sophie at Howl’s Bedside“ aus der Serie "The Imagination of Hayao Miyazaki captured in Aubusson Tapestry" in den Ausstellungsräumen der Cité internationale de la tapisserie. Der Teppich hat eine Größe von 3 Meter x 5,60 Meter, Er wurde in Aubusson von Febraur 2022 bis Oktober 2023 gewebt / © Foto: Georg Berg
Tapestry “Old Sophie at Howl’s Bedside” from the series “The Imagination of Hayao Miyazaki captured in Aubusson Tapestry”. The carpet measures 3 metres x 5.60 metres / © Photo: Georg Berg
Gewebte Abenteuer in den Ausstellungsräumen der Cité internationale de la tapisserie Aubusson. Hier „The moving castle at sunset“  aus dem Animefilm von 2004 Howl’s Moving Castle. Gewebt in Aubusson ab März 2022 bis Februar 2023 / © Foto: Georg Berg
Woven adventures in the exhibition rooms of the Cité internationale de la tapisserie Aubusson. Here “The moving castle at sunset” from the 2004 anime film Howl’s Moving Castle. Woven in Aubusson from March 2022 to February 2023 / © Photo: Georg Berg

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.

Mitarbeiter der Cité internationale de la tapisserie erklärt die Besonderheiten des Wandteppichs  "Hommage à George Sand" von Françoise Petrovitch. Die Materialien und Farbwahl des Wandteppichs wurden in enger Zusammenarbeit mit den Experten der Cité internationale de la tapisserie Aubusson ausgewählt und umgesetzt / © Foto: Georg Berg
Special exhibition on the work on “Hommage à George Sand” by Françoise Petrovitch. The materials and choice of colours for the tapestry were selected and implemented in close collaboration with experts from the Cité internationale de la tapisserie Aubusson / © Photo: Georg Berg
Die Kunst der optischen Täuschung. Dies ist keine Plastikplane sondern ein Wandteppich. „Blue“ von Marie Sirgue. Bei näherer Betrachtung wird aus der glänzenden Plastikplane ein perfekt gewebter und flacher Teppich aus Seide in 3 Meter x 2 Meter / © Foto: Georg Berg
The art of optical illusion. This is not a plastic sheet but the tapestry. “Blue” by Marie Sirgue. On closer inspection, the shiny plastic tarpaulin becomes a perfectly woven and flat silk carpet measuring 3 metres x 2 metres / © Photo: Georg Berg

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.

Weberinnenin der Cité internationale de la tapisserie in Aubusson arbeiten an einem Motiv des japanischen Künstlers Hayao Miyazaki, „Mein Nachbar Totoro“. Das Motiv besteht aus 200 Nuancen der Farbe grün. Der Teppich wird einmal eine Größe von 31 Quadratmetern haben / © Foto: Georg Berg
Weavers at the Cité internationale de la tapisserie in Aubusson are working on a motif by Japanese artist Hayao Miyazaki, “My Neighbour Totoro”. The motif consists of 200 shades of the colour green. The carpet will have a size of 31 square metres / © Photo: Georg Berg

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.

Das markante Gebäude mit der bunten Fassade der Cité internationale de la tapisserie in Aubusson. Die Institution ist ein Modellprojekt, das traditionelles Know-how einer UNESCO-geadelten Kulturtechnik bewahrt, durch gezielte Innovation in die Zukunft führt und sich in einem internationalen Netzwerk positioniert / © Foto: Georg Berg
The striking building with the colourful façade of the Cité internationale de la tapisserie in Aubusson / © Photo: Georg Berg

The research trip was supported by Nouvelle-Aquitaine Tourism and Creuse Tourisme

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