The Aubusson area of Creuse has been famous for its fine tapestries and carpets since the 14th century, a reputation which peaked when settlers arrived from Flanders during the Eighty Years’ War in the late 1500s, bringing their weaving skills with them. All the processes that go to create a tapestry – from sheep farming and dye-manufacturing through to designing, weaving and selling – have been operational here since then, and Creuse is believed to be the only place in the world where this symbiosis between trades has taken place for so long, expanding from a group of cottage industries to a world-renowned, large-scale set of local businesses. Aubusson’s tapestry museum celebrates the area’s industrial heritage but also holds special exhibitions to display some little known works by Picasso, Dali, Calder, Braque and Chagall, amongst others – all tapestries too, of course. If the impulse grabs you, you can also visit the manufacturers’ workshops yourself and watch the process from start to finish – and maybe even buy yourself a rug, if you’re feeling reckless.
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