We know a little more about the future of Saint-Vaast Abbeyhistorical and emblematic monument of the City of Arras (Pas de Calais). This Monday, March 7, 2022, the preliminary draft summary of interior fittings was presented to the municipal council by Pierre-Antoine Gatier, the architect. The first ones work will start in July next.

After a short introduction recalling the origins of the abbey and its reconstruction after the First World War, the architect summarized the basic preliminary project and focused in particular on the part managed by the City, the cultural center (media library and Museum).

“An abbey open to all”

A presentation designated by floor, restarted by the basement. “Even the basements, these extraordinary vaulted caves, will be accessible to the public. We want the abbey to be open to everyone”, insists Pierre-Antoine Gatier.

Visitors could therefore go down to the basement to admire the reserves and collections stored there, “this is the new philosophy of museum requalification projects”.

The architect chained with the ground floor and the entrance to the abbey. “The idea is that any visitor will be able to pass the three courtyards (courtyard of honor, courtyard of the well and courtyard of the cloister, editor’s note) and the spaces on the outskirts. » A transverse passage through the side wing will lead to the space dedicated to reading.

“A visitor enters the abbey, crosses the main courtyard and can go directly to this side forum. From there, the children will be able to access the youth corner and the parents to the reading corner which will develop around the cloister,” he explains. “Anyone who comes for the reading could appropriate the whole abbey. »

The hotel will open in May 2024

the first floor includes a large part dedicated to the museum and the collections, and which includes the Jaulmes room: “This is one of the great achievements of the project. Today, it is a space devoted to reserves and will be one of the great emotions of any visit to Arras Abbey and the factory of the imagination,” adds the architect.

At second floor, we continue the presentation of the historical collections of the museum. “There will also be a place dedicated to exhibitions. It is a gathered, identifiable and easily accessible set. We want to offer a spectacular space which corresponds to the former space of the media library and which will host the thematic exhibitions”, he will end.

The city of Arras will therefore begin the project management work from July 25, 2022. Unfortunately, we do not know more about the private project and the luxury hotel which should open its doors in May 2024. Case to be continued.

The Saint-Vaast Abbey project in a few figures:
• 22,000m² : it is the total surface of the monument. It should be noted that 10,000m2 are still unoccupied today;
• 200 : this is the number of jobs created directly or indirectly;
• 2024 : this is the year in which the luxury hotel of the prestigious Marriott group is due to open;
• 37,000 : is the number of works and objects kept in the museum;
• 41 : the number of millions of euros invested by the private party in this project;
• 24 : this is the number of millions of euros invested by the city for the next ten years in this project.

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