From Piconrue to the Grande Ardenne

A tribute to André Neuberg

André Neuberg, founder of the Musée en Piconrue, passed away on 1 May 2020. To honour this extraordinary figure, the museum’s management wished to pay tribute in a manner befitting the character of the man who inspired it. The editorial choices made by the book’s two editors, Richard Jusseret and Sébastien Pierre, allow readers to appreciate both the progress made under the guidance of Piconrue’s founder and the new avenues explored by those who have taken up the baton.

No eulogy, then, but rather a blend of personal accounts and scholarly contributions that intertwine, illustrating the many facets of this man of action’s pioneering work: the preservation of the Ardennes’ religious heritage, his interest in myths and legends, and the passing on of this heritage to future generations. This history of a museum within history is enriched by numerous illustrations drawn from the Piconrue’s extensive collections, which also bear witness to the immense work accomplished by André Neuberg.

Beyond the remarkable figure that was the founder of the Piconrue – whom many will enjoy discovering between the lines on numerous pages – this book invites readers to explore the ‘Grande Ardenne’, after which the museum is now named. A ‘Grande Ardenne’ that is now better known and more fully appreciated thanks to André Neuberg, whose faith moved mountains…