It
is in April 1994 that the circus was awarded a place
of honour in Vatan. Mrs Annick Zavatta, the museum's godmother,
signed then the birth certificate of that unique place in France
by cutting the three-coloured ribbon.
A
man with a passion for circus was instrumental in setting up this
museum. He is known to the circus folk asthe "White Angel" and for six years now, he has
brought growing success to this place that fascinates circus
fanatics and inexperienced people alike.
As
a child, Michel Caudoux used to hang aboutthe circus caravans which stopped on the fair ground near his
home. By dint of watching the convoys drive away after each performance,
he ended up dreaming that he would run away with the touring show one
day. However, he had to wait twenty long years before his dream came
true: to become an acrobat and perform his act from town to town during
more than fifteen years. But as time elapsed, the total number of his
troupe members dwindled and he was compelled to establish himself, which
he did at Vatan in the Berry region.
During
the long years spent with circus folk,Michel
Caudoux gathered a large collection of posters and all sorts of
documents about the circus. Stored in a garage, they were threatened
with disappearance. He then got an idea. He, who had been adopted by the
large circus family, would share his passion with a great many people.
An unexpected ally in this project was to be found with the town of
Vatan. In 1993, he was authorized to exhibit his rare and prestigious
posters in the town hall for the Vatan people to see. Contrary to all
expectations, success was quick and unexpected. Long queues of people
standing were forming on the pavements and new ideas started to
germinate. At the same time, the town of Vatan had the project to become
a "village étape", that is to say a village situated close to
the A20 motorway where travellers can either stop for a meal or stay
overnight. However, the town council was forced to realize that the
application to the "village étape" group might be successful
only if Vatan featured something new and outstanding. Mr Yves Fouquet,
the mayor, met with Michel Caudoux and Jean-Claude Lucet, then National
Chairman of the Circus Club in order to find out if the projected circus
museum would be viable. After various studies, the response was positive
and the first circus museum in France was to open its doors at Vatan.
The
town council placed an old disused school as well as two rooms at the
disposal of the Club des Amis du Cirque (i.e. National Association of
Circus Friends). The first objectslent by the Micheletti family
for Zavatta circus and the Rech-Bouglione family for Amar circus were
exhibited there. All the greatest French circus artistessupported
the project and entrusted to Mr Caudoux's care clown, trainer and
trapeze artiste costumes, unicycles and a rolling globe.Even a music stand from the celebrated "Piste aux
Etoiles" was to be exhibited. The Piste aux Etoiles, i.e. the ring
with stars, was a famous monthly TV programme featuring a circus.
What
was only a dream in a man's head thus rapidly came true and is now a
great success.
Since
its creation, the museum has continually extended. If the adventure
started in two old classrooms, the exhibition soon extended to the four
adjacent rooms. Each room is devoted to a different theme. There, the
visitor can discover the origins of the circus and the major role the
horse has always played. Then come the rooms of the clowns, trainers,
tightrope artistes and other jugglers. Lastly, a video room, as a
logical conclusion to this visit, testifies that today's circus is as
glamorous as ever.
To
enrich this initial collection, Mrs Annick Zavatta agreed to lend the
clown costume of her famous husband. She was soon followed by Mrs Lanzac
who placed at the museum's disposal one of her husband's costumes, Mr
Lanzac being the unforgettable ringmaster of the Piste aux Etoiles.
Outside, visitors can also admire one of the Krone family's caravans
coming straight from Munich, Germany, a big cage owned by the Gruss
family and also a globe of death lent by the Micheletti family.
But
it is undoubtedly thanks to Dr Frère's collection that the Musée du
Cirque has won renown. Considered as one of the greatest European
collectors in the field of circus objects, Dr Frère started to support
the Association des Amis du Musée du canton de Vatan, i.e. the local
association of Musée du Cirque Friends, in 1995. As the museum's
collections were enriched with many pieces lent by him, Dr Frèrethus contributed to its success and to the ever increasing number
of visitors.
