Maison de l'Ardoise
Municipal museum housed in the former power station of Rimogne, tracing more than eight centuries of slate quarrying.
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About the museum
Rimogne was one of France's great slate basins: slate was quarried there for more than 800 years, from the Middle Ages until the early 1970s. As early as 1158, the abbey of Signy received the right to take the slate it needed from the commune's territory, and other abbeys received the same rights in the 13th century. Large-scale quarrying developed from 1702 with the arrival of Jean-Baptiste Collard.
The Maison de l'Ardoise is housed in the former power station of the slate quarries and now belongs to the commune. It tells this industrial story, which shaped the social, economic and cultural life of the village, still known as the Village de l'Ardoise.
The permanent route takes visitors from the depths of the quarry up to the surface. It presents the properties of slate, the harsh conditions of extraction, and the daily life of the slate workers, known as “écaillons” (splitters), and their families. A visit tablet accompanies the route through six rooms, and visitors can lean over the 185-metre shaft.
Highlights
- Six rooms on the history of slate in Rimogne
- View down a 185-metre-deep shaft
- Interactive visit tablet
- Fab Lab with an introduction to 3D printing
- Shop selling slate objects from the Ardennes
Permanent exhibition
- Parcours permanent de la Maison de l'Ardoise – Six rooms on the properties of slate, the conditions of extraction and the life of the slate workers, with a view down the 185-metre shaft.
- Founded
- 2008
- Operated by
- Commune de Rimogne
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €7 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €3Under 16s, job seekers, people with disabilities |
| Children & teens | €3free up to age 4 · Youth rate for under-16s; free for under-5s. |
| Visitors with disabilities | €3Reduced rate, the same as the youth rate. |
| Groups (10+ people) | €4.50 per personFrom 10 people. |
| School rate | €1.50 |
Free admission for residents of Rimogne upon proof of residence. The Maison de l'Ardoise is a member of the Pass'Touristique Ardennes.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
- Museum shop
Shop with craft objects made of Ardennes slate and local produce.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Route with visit tablet. Guided tours for groups by reservation. A Fab Lab is installed in the building, where you can get started with 3D printing. |
