What is a ICAH (CIAP in french)?
It’s an Interpretation Centre for Architecture and Heritage. It is a local equipment, which allows to raise awareness, inform and train all audiences about the architecture and heritage of Fougères.
Its creation is directly linked to the label « Ville d’Art et d’Histoire », whose 40 years Fougères celebrates in 2025!
An interpretation center, but not only!
La Coursive offers visitors an immersion in local history, presenting a chronological discovery trail, exhibitions and thematic animations. At the time of the reflection for its implantation, two other projects were carried out in parallel: the first around the industrial and workers’ past fougerais; the second around the literary heritage and Jean Guéhenno. The choice was therefore made to combine all three projects into one.
A pooling that makes it possible to value all fougères heritage, material and immaterial, from architecture to literature, through industrial history.
The different spaces
With an area of 1250 m², La Coursive comprises 2 levels to highlight the culture and heritage that make up the identity of Fougères.
On the ground floor are:
- Reception, ticketing and shop
- The model of the city with its main monuments and districts
- A temporary exhibition and conference space
- A pedagogical room for mediation with young audiences
On the first floor, you will find:
- The permanent exhibition
- A literature island
- A pedagogical room for mediation with young audiences