THE PERMANENT COLLECTIONS
THE SHOPPING
STREET
Walking along the shopping street is like immersing yourself in a colorful merchant village.
The modern grocery store reveals a multitude of vintage lithographed tin cans, meaning advertising tin cans, some of which have survived the test of time: Banania, Bouillon Kub…
We also discover the old tobacco shop with its collection of vintage pipes and lighters.
The haberdashery takes us into a frilly universe.
At the café, a game of manille is unfolding, amusingly watched by the waiter!
THE ARTISANS'
VILLAGE
Twenty rural professions are presented in a realistic scenography: baker, blacksmith, clog maker, washerwomen, weaver, floral decorator, watchmaker, harness maker, carpenter, barber hairdresser…
Those were the good old days! Not so sure, if we consider the « unsettling » instruments used by our dentist and our countryside doctor.
What about our display depicting hunting and its enormous bear trap!
THE CLASSROOM
In 1913, children used to walk to school, carrying a log to fuel the wood stove located at the back of the classroom.
The teacher, seated on his podium, was strict and respected.
The class began with a moral lesson, and our fair-haired kids wore smocks and galoshes while writing with a quill.
There were separate schools for girls and boys, no coeducation which was in vogue at that time!
AGRICULTURAL
MACHINERY
It is the season that defines the work in the countryside. The days are long and the tools sometimes rudimentary. The first tractors make fieldwork easier. Our « Titan, » created in the United States in 1914, was the first foreign tractor imported to France. It stands as a patriarch among the « Mc Cormick, » « Lanz Model 24/16 of 1950, » « Renault, » and « Société française Vierzon Type H1 of 1938. »
During harvest time, it is the locomobile that powers the combine harvester in a mechanical uproar and a cloud of smoke. But it is also a joyful and collaborative work that farmers, going from farm to farm, carry out with good humor!
THE VINE
AND WINE
MUSEUM
Incredible! Gigantic! No superlatives are strong enough to describe our impressive 17th-century 12-ton parrot press! We are in the Brulhois vineyard, where vineyard work and winemaking are a tradition.
Tools for pruning, processing, and wine production are showcased in a 400m² area.
VINTAGE
CARS
Several vintage cars to discover:
– The yellow Citröen Trèfle from 1920, nicknamed « the little lemon, » reminds us of Tintin’s car.
– The black Renault NN utility vehicle from 1927.
– The convertible Simca 5 from 1938 is a true gem!
– The navy blue Renault Celta 4 from 1940, originally designed to compete with the « Traction. »
– The red Citröen C6 saloon has a wooden steering wheel and a luxurious interior.
– The turquoise blue Inter 3-wheel was only produced in 500 units, and its steering wheel resembles an airplane’s. It’s not surprising since this prototype was invented by an aircraft manufacturer!
– The yellow Citröen Trèfle from 1920, nicknamed « the little lemon, » reminds us of Tintin’s car.
– The black Renault NN utility vehicle from 1927.
– The convertible Simca 5 from 1938 is a true gem!
– The navy blue Renault Celta 4 from 1940, originally designed to compete with the « Traction. »
– The red Citröen C6 saloon has a wooden steering wheel and a luxurious interior.
– The turquoise blue Inter 3-wheel was only produced in 500 units, and its steering wheel resembles an airplane’s. It’s not surprising since this prototype was invented by an aircraft manufacturer!
HORSE-DRAWN
VEHICLES
In the countryside until the 1950s, people would travel by foot, bicycle, or horse-drawn carriage.
The vehicles on display required true craftsmanship for their creation: saddlery work for the leather and harnesses; wheelwright for the wheels; and blacksmith for the iron parts.
These vehicles, more expensive than simple carts, were reserved for the upper class.