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The Médard Collection

The Louis-Médard Collection, an exceptional library

"I hereby bequeath the sole ownership of (my reading room) to my native town of Lunel, but with express conditions… that the College be maintained for all time, that my collection of books never be altered & and that the inhabitants of Lunel be granted full enjoyment of it with the help of a librarian …”

Thus reads the will and testament of Louis Médard (1768 – 1841). This merchant, member of the Reformed Church, bequeathed his collection of nearly 5,000 printed works and manuscripts to his fellow citizens of Lunel, whom he wanted to serve: educated himself in Enlightenment ideas, he believed that the only weapons in the struggle against misery and superstition were education and the reading of great texts from previous generations.



Bibliophilism and study
Louis Médard wanted to turn his beloved collection of books into a study collection:

- Out of respect for his books, for all of the works are rare and precious: manuscripts from the Middle Ages, first editions from the 16 th and 17 th centuries, engraved books from the 18 th century, revolutionary collections... The bindings are remarkable, most dating from the 19 th century; many were created in the great Parisian workshops, but 250 came from workshops in Montpellier.

- For the purposes of teaching: This book lover had all of his works itemized in two catalogues, and dictated prefaces which were placed at the beginning of works on which he wished to comment.

Works available in the Médard Collection