Ferme-musée du Cotentin

About the museum

The Ferme de Beauvais is a former manor farm whose history goes back to the late 16th century. It belonged to several wealthy families of the region and takes its name from an owner of the early 18th century, the Sieur Beauvais. The farm operated until 1976.

The site became a museum in 1979. The farm buildings remained grouped around a large courtyard, including the bakehouse and the cart sheds (charreteries). The Pays du Plain has been a cattle-raising area since the late 17th century, home to the Normande cattle breed, and the museum tells its story.

The Département de la Manche owns the site and takes care of its conservation, management and programming. The museum has held the Musée de France label since 2014. Its collections comprise nearly 2,500 objects relating to Normandy’s rural and agricultural heritage, from the small spoon to the tractor, with furniture, tools, machines and clothing.

Highlights

• Reconstructed rooms: common room for evening gatherings, dairy, cider cellar, press
• Bakehouse, stable, cowshed and cart sheds of a grassland farm
• Horse-drawn and motorised farm machinery
• Farmyard with Normandy breeds (Cotentin hen, Normande goose, Cotentin donkey)
• Beehives and the farmer’s kitchen garden
• Visit games for children

Permanent exhibitions

• Ferme herbagère du début du XXe siècle – Common room for evening gatherings, dairy, cider cellar, press, bakehouse, stable, cowshed and cart sheds bring the daily life of a Normandy farm back to life.
• Machines agricoles – Display of horse-drawn and motorised machines that transformed farm work.
• Basse-cour, rucher et potager – Outdoor route to meet animals of Normandy breeds, with beehives and the farmer’s kitchen garden.

Founded

1979

Operated by

Département de la Manche

Admission & discounts

Payment by bank card, cheque, Chèques-Vacances and cash.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking
• 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

The museum indicates provisions for hearing, motor, psychological and visual impairments, as well as for young visitors, without further detail. Two reserved disabled parking spaces are opposite the entrance.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide

Family pass and loyalty card, visit games “Autrefois, c’était…”, “Loto des objets d’autrefois” and “Que suis-je ?” for self-guided use. During the holidays, workshops and activities are offered, for example old-fashioned apple juice, apple bourdelots (apples baked in pastry) or a ride on an old tractor.

Getting there & parking

Access via the N13, exit no. 8. GPS coordinates: N 49°24'53'', W 1°19'07''.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

On-site shop and outdoor picnic area.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit