Collection Doazan

Father Louis Doazan was born in 1925 in Lourdes. In 1944, he chose to become a priest and entered the Congregation of the Missionary Oblates of Mary where he studied for seven years. Ordained a priest in 1951, he was sent to Corsica to the minor seminary that then occupied the Bacciochi castle in Ajaccio. For 15 years he was in charge of the animation of young students and the teaching of natural sciences for those in secondary school. He made them discover the minerals, the flora and the fauna of the island. He also investigates the agricultural and artisanal techniques and the pastoral uses. He collected an important collection of objects, specimens and tools that he presented in the school museum of the Seminary.

In 1967, he left teaching to devote himself to his priestly ministry. He was appointed to the Porta d’Ampugnani and set up a museum in the presbytery. In 1973, he decided to give his collection to the State in order to create a Corsican museum of arts and popular traditions.

Between 1952 and 1978, he collected nearly 3,000 objects and wrote 64 ethnographic notebooks. These notebooks are illustrated with photographs and sketches.

This ethnographic collection is, in accordance with his wish, exposed since 1997 to the museum of Corsica. The Doazan gallery highlights the view of traditional rural Corsica through five spaces (The discovery of Corsica; The invention of heritage; Crafts and know-how; The sheepfold of Milisaria; The space of the shepherd)

The ethnographic notebooks can be consulted on interactive terminals presented on the Doazan landing.