Aubusson, Creuse

Aubusson is situated in the southern part of the département, at the confluence of the rivers Creuse and Beauze. The route nationale N141 goes through the town.

Local lore previously held that the community was settled by defeated Berbers following the 8th-century Battle of Tours,[3] but it is now established that Aubusson has existed at least since the Gallo-Roman period.[4] The Camp des Châtres, within the town's boundaries, for a long time considered a Roman fort, actually dates back a little further, to the Iron Age.

The town was known as Albuciensis in 936 and under the name Albuconis in 1070. The name possibly originates from a name of a man, Albucius [5] Other scholars claim the name is from a Celtic word meaning craggy. In the Middle Ages the town was ruled by viscounts. The vicecomital family also produced a troubadour named Joan d'Aubusson.

Aubusson tapestry in the Musée Nissim de Camondo, Paris

Aubusson is well known for its tapestry and carpets, which have been famous throughout the world since the 14th century. The origins of this craft date to the arrival of weavers from Flanders, who took refuge in Aubusson around 1580. There is a famous collection of Aubusson tapestries at Vallon-Pont-d'Arc. The style of the tapestries produced has changed through the centuries, from scenes of green landscapes through to hunting scenes. In the 17th century, the Aubusson and Felletin workshops were given "Royal Appointment" status. A downturn in fortunes came after the French revolution and the arrival of wallpaper. However, tapestry made something of a comeback during the 1930s, with artists such as Cocteau, Dufy, Dali, Braque, Calder and Picasso being invited to Aubusson to express themselves through the medium of wool. Aubusson tapestry still thrives today, preserving a range of traditional skills. In 1983, l’Atelier Raymond Picaud chose Burhan Doğançay's Ribbon Series as a tapestry subject. Coventry cathedral's famous Christ in Glory tapestry, designed by artist Graham Sutherland, was woven in nearby Felletin. Installed in 1962, this was the world's largest vertical tapestry up until the 1990s.

In the medieval period, Aubusson was a vicomté (fr) which is similar to the English vice-county. Its rulers were:

• Ranulf I  ?-934
• Robert I 934-942
• Renaud I 942-958 (son of Ranulf I)
• Ranulf II Cabridel 958-1031
• Ranulf III 1031-1060
• Renaud III 1060-1069
• William I 1069-1106
• Renaud IV 1106-?
• Renaud V The Leper  ?-1185
• Guy I 1185- ?
• Renaud VI  ?-1249
• Ranulf V 1249-c. 1265
• William II (heir) 1263, lord of La Borne, La Feuillade, Monteil-au-Vicomte, Poux, Pintarion and Damoiseau (1317), started a noble line that continued with his son Renaud VIII (1317–1353) and his successors.

Around 1263/1266 the vice-county was sold to the count of La Marche.

• Jules Sandeau (1811–1883), member of the Académie française
• André Jorrand (1921–2007), composer and organist

Aubusson is twinned with:

• Eguisheim, France
• Assen, Netherlands[8]

• Communes of the Creuse département

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Aubusson (Creuse).

Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article "Aubusson".

• "Site du Théâtre Jean Lurçat - Scène nationale" (in French).
• "Site du Musée de la Tapisserie" (in French). Archived from the original on 19 May 2007. Retrieved 14 November 2007.
• "Site sur la ville aujourd'hui" (in French). Archived from the original on 27 October 2007.
• "Site de la ville" (in French).
• "Site sur le passé de la ville" (in French). Archived from the original on 18 November 2007.
• "Aubusson on Quid website" (in French). Archived from the original on 30 September 2007.
• "Website of the Association Les Amis de l'Orgue d'Aubusson" (in French).