Les Lapidiales, Poitou Charentes Travel Guide

Les Lapidiales, an open-air museum born in 1997, resides in the heart of the ancient Crazannes quarries in Port-d'Envaux. Here, sculptors from around the globe converge to transform the stone faces of the Chabossières quarry into breathtaking works of art. The association Les Lapidiales, founded in 2000 by Alain Tenenbaum, invites artists for residencies, encouraging them to create sculptures based on predefined themes.Visitors can explore themed spaces featuring over 200 sculptures inspired by diverse world cultures, including India, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. The site also includes abstract, figurative, symbolic, and fantastical works, each reflecting the unique vision of its creator. Les Lapidiales is more than just a museum; it's a space where art, nature, and heritage intertwine. Vegetation embraces the stone creations, highlighting the quarries' historical and architectural significance and the ancestral skills of the stonemasons.Since its inception, resident sculptors have been invited to select their successors, resulting in a diverse collection of approximately 60 monumental sculptures crafted by around 50 artists. Admission is free, allowing visitors to explore the site day and night. From May 1st to September 30th, five to seven sculptors are in residence each year, offering the public a chance to witness the creative process and engage with the artists. Sculpture workshops are also available to the public.