Écomusée de la Cartoucherie
Eco-museum in Survilliers on the industrial and social history of the Cartoucherie Française and its workers’ housing estate, open on set dates.
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About the museum
The Cartoucherie Française was founded in 1903 in Survilliers by chemical engineer Charles Gabel and his partner Georges Leroy. It produced hunting and sport cartridges as well as military ammunition. The First World War accelerated its growth: between the wars, management built more than 200 low-rent homes and offered its staff social benefits, gardens and cultural and sports clubs. The commune grew from around 500 inhabitants before 1914 to nearly 1,200 in the 1930s. Production began to decline in the 1960s; in 1989 the factory turned to airbags, and two years later it gave up military production.
The museum-conservatory opened in 2007 in the company’s former gymnasium, on the initiative of the association of Friends of the Cartoucherie Museum and the mayor of the time, in order to save machines, production objects and other collections threatened with destruction. Since January 1, 2024, it has been run by the Roissy Pays de France urban community and bears the name eco-museum, which highlights attention to ways of living and working and to the know-how of residents.
The Heritage department of the urban community has been collecting photographs, objects and testimonies since 2018. Work is under way to redefine the museum route, which is expected to take a few years.
Highlights
- Old machines, tools, documents, cartridges and other products of the factory
- Outdoor route through the workers’ housing estate and around the factory
- Sound testimonies from former workers and employees on the museum’s page
- Free guided visit at 15:00 on opening days
Permanent exhibitions
- Parcours de l'écomusée – The history of the Cartoucherie Française and its workers, told through old machines, tools, documents, cartridges and other products.
- Parcours extérieur : la cité ouvrière – A walk around the factory and through the workers’ housing estate to discover the company’s social legacy and the daily life of its staff.
- Founded
- 2007
- Operated by
- Communauté d'agglomération Roissy Pays de France
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Free admission; the 15:00 guided visit is free while places last.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
According to the museum, the spaces are accessible to people with reduced mobility.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
J.P.G. (bus 9501) · 4-min walk
RER D towards Orry-la-Ville or Creil, stop Gare de Survilliers-Fosses. From the station: bus 9501 (J.P.G. stop, 4 minutes on foot), bus R9 or R121 (Mairie stop, 5 minutes on foot) or bus R117 (Bergerie stop, 6 minutes on foot). From Charles-de-Gaulle Airport: RER B to Roissypôle station, then bus 9501 (J.P.G. stop).
By car
Free parking
Two free public car parks: between numbers 13 and 19 Grande Rue, and between numbers 4 and 6 Rue Jean-Jaurès.
By car: A1 motorway from Paris or Lille, exit Survilliers/Fosses (toll section), then Grande Rue.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Two routes: a visit of the eco-museum, freely accessible during opening hours or as a guided tour (scheduled for individual visitors, by reservation for groups), and an outdoor route around the factory and the workers’ housing estate, guided on certain occasions such as the European Heritage Days. |
