More than 1 000 years of history

In Europe, Antiquity is often synonymous with the Greco-Roman era, from the 1st millennium BCE to the fall of the Western Roman Empire. In Gaul, the Celtic world gradually adopted Roman customs following Caesar's conquests in the 1st century. Starting in the 3rd century, the arrival of Germanic peoples, known as "barbarians," disrupted the existing balance of power.

From the 5th to the 11th century, political powers and society underwent a period of reorganization. The former Western Roman Empire fragmented into multiple kingdoms that gradually became Christianized. A unique culture emerged, blending ancient heritage, Germanic traditions, and local practices.

From the 11th to the 13th century, relationships between lords and vassals organized all of society. The King of France gradually strengthened his authority over the territory at the expense of the lords. The period was marked by demographic and urban growth, leading to an increase in commissions and centers of artistic production.  

The 14th and 15th centuries were marked by a series of crises (wars, epidemics, religious crises) that destabilized all of Europe. However, the period ended with a strengthening of royal and urban power. Tapestries reflect a new way of life, new forms of devotion developed, and scientific innovations fostered the spread of knowledge.