The Cité Du Vitrail : A Cultural Place To Discover In Troyes In Champagne
The city of Troyes in Champagne is considered the European capital of stained glass. It is therefore quite natural that the department of Aube has chosen this city to install the Cité du Vitrail within the Hôtel-Dieu, a magnificent 17th century building. We invite you to discover this cultural, educational and touristic place which will open its doors to the public in December 2022.
A long-awaited opening
After 4 years of building restoration, layout and scenography, the Cité du Vitrail will open its doors to the public at the end of 2022.
This cultural project carried by the Department of Aube will soon be able to be discovered by visitors, in the heart of the city of Troyes!
This new tourist venue entirely dedicated to the art of stained glass has been installed in the Hôtel-Dieu, an 18th century architectural jewel. The official opening date has been set on Saturday, December 17, 2022.
A cultural place dedicated to stained glass
In this place, which is not strictly speaking a museum, visitors will be able to admire a permanent exhibition composed of stained glass windows of different periods, functions and styles.
This new cultural place of the City of Troyes has indeed the vocation to dust off the image of stained glass and to make the public discover the multiple stylistic, historical, technical and iconographic aspects.
It should be noted, by the way, that the Cité du Vitrail is only one of the stages of the Stained Glass Route created by the Department of Aube in 2021. This tourist circuit covering the entire department aims to highlight 65 civil or religious buildings housing masterpieces of Aube stained glass art.
Did you know that the department of Aube has more than 9000m2 of stained glass windows dating from before the French Revolution, more than 2000 bays protected as Historic Monuments and stained glass windows in more than 350 churches and public buildings?
An educational course
The Cité du Vitrail in Troyes has set itself the goal of making the art of stained glass accessible to the greatest number. Nearly 10 centuries of stained glass history, from the 12th to the 21st century, are presented there.
The tour of the permanent exhibition begins on the 3rd floor of the Hôtel-Dieu with the discovery of the elaboration and execution of a stained glass window in a space that reconstitutes a master glassmaker's workshop.
A second room allows visitors to learn more about the history of stained glass through 11 chronological focuses illustrated by various media (films, photographs, documents and original stained glass or reproductions).
The second floor, bathed in natural light, offers visitors the opportunity to admire glass works of art. This part of the tour allows visitors to measure the richness of this art form, which has never ceased to renew itself over the centuries.
A small room serves as the setting for the chef d'oeuvre de la Cité: a late 12th-century Trojan panel that is the oldest stained glass in the collection.
The second floor houses 3 large temporary exhibition rooms intended to host thematic or monographic exhibitions on the theme of stained glass, alternating with other cultural exhibitions organized by the Aube department.
A place full of surprises
In addition to housing the Cité du Vitrail, the Hôtel-Dieu has other surprises in store for visitors along the way.
The sacristy exhibits some of the chapel's furnishings, authentic liturgical furniture including light fixtures, a Christ on the cross and fragments of stained glass.
The chapel, which was redecorated between 1862 and 1866, closes the tour in style. Indeed, one can admire a set of wall paintings, furniture and glass works of course!
In addition to the stained glass window in the choir, which has been restored, the six large bays of the chapel house monumental old or contemporary stained glass windows, enhanced by natural light.
Another room named the Laboratory presents a film on the history of the Hôtel-Dieu since its founding by Henry I in 1157. This rib-vaulted room, adorned with mosaics on the floor, was once used to prepare remedies. It is adjacent to the large room of the Apothecary's which is one of the most beautiful in France!
The Apothecary's classified as a Historic Monument preserves an exceptional collection of earthenware pots and painted wooden pharmaceutical boxes from the 18th and 19th centuries.
Finally, this vast cultural project supported by the Department of Aube and the city of Troyes has allowed the restoration of a historic garden of 2800 square meters. The Hospital Garden has regained its former glory and now offers a green haven in the heart of the city of Troyes with beautiful views of the cathedral.
Practical information
Address
City of Stained Glass
Hôtel-Dieu-Le-Comte
31 quai des Comtes de Champagne
10000 Troyes
Contact
Phone: +33 (0)3 25 42 52 87
