Collectors of Ideas - Mundaneum & Maison Losseau
Maison Losseau and Mundaneum: two exceptional buildings connected by the "Collectors of ideas" route.
The Maison Losseau and the Mundaneum, two buildings exemplary of Art Nouveau and Art Deco architecture, share much more than geographic proximity in the Rue de Nimy in Mons. They both remind us of a shared history and common values, those of Paul Otlet and Léon Losseau. These educated bourgeois who lived at the turn of the 20th century had both studied law, were both passionate about books and bibliography and both assigned themselves to the same mission: sharing with future generations, participating in the progress of humanity, spreading knowledge.
Paul Otlet reached this goal by creating the Universal Decimal Classification with Henri La Fontaine, to which Léon Losseau collaborated and which he applied to its many collections. A rich correspondence highlights the relationship between the two, further proven by the lecture given by Otlet in Mons at Losseau’s invitation. The latter will also become director of the International Institute of Bibliography, the future Mundaneum, after the deaths of Otlet and La Fontaine.
Today, the Mundaneum is an archive centre and an exhibition space located in Mons since 1993, while the Maison Losseau (recently restored under the auspices of the Province of Hainaut and accessible to the public) hosts an interpretation centre and a centre for Hainaut literature. The teams of both institutions collaborate regularly as part of their scientific development and offer visitors joint cultural activities.
A combined ticket invites you to discover the shared destinies of Otlet and Losseau: two humanists; two idealists; two "Collectors of ideas."
Information
Ticket for individuals : 8,00€ (available from 3rd May 2016)
Guided tour (2 hours in total) : 110,00€ (maximum 25 people) – Only on reservation : +32(0)65 31 53 43 or info@mundaneum.be
Maison Losseau
Rue de Nimy 39/41 – 7000 Mons
Tel : +32(0)65.398.880
E-mail : info@maisonlosseau.be
www.maisonlosseau.be
Mundaneum
Rue de Nimy 76 – 7000 Mons
Tel : +32(0)65.31.53.43
E-mail : info@mundaneum.be
www.mundaneum.org
