Maison de l’outil et de la pensée ouvrière
Museum in Troyes housed in the Hôtel Mauroy, with around 12,000 hand tools and a technical library.
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About the museum
The museum occupies the Hôtel Mauroy in Troyes. The building was badly damaged by a fire in 1524; in 1556, Jean Mauroy, provost of the mint, took it over and renovated it. He then founded a hospital and a college for orphans, the Collège de la Trinité, where they learned a trade. The Rue de la Trinité still bears its name.
The City of Troyes bought the hôtel in 1966. At the end of 1969 it entrusted the building to the Compagnons du Devoir du Tour de France. The museum is housed there and also organises exhibitions and cultural events linked to its collections.
The display presents around 12,000 hand-shaping tools from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. It shows how manual skills were passed on and the link between thinking and the craftsman’s gesture. One display case gathers 329 trowels. A resource centre also holds around 32,000 old and modern books, including a first edition of Diderot and d'Alembert’s Encyclopédie.
Highlights
- Around 12,000 hand tools from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries
- Display case of 329 trowels
- Hôtel Mauroy, former Collège de la Trinité
- Technical library of 32,000 books, including a first edition of the Encyclopédie
Permanent exhibition
- Collection d’outils – Around 12,000 hand tools from the 17th to 19th centuries, including a display case of 329 trowels.
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €8 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €4Young people aged 12 to 18, students, apprentices, groups of more than 15 people, people with disabilities, job seekers. |
| Children & teens | €4free up to age 11 · Reduced rate for ages 12 to 18. |
| Visitors with disabilities | €4 |
| Students & apprentices | €4 |
| Groups (16+ people) | €4 per personReduced rate for groups of more than 15 people. |
| Audio guide (in addition to admission) | €1 |
| Annual pass | €19Valid for one year; free entry to the collections and a 5% discount at the museum bookshop. |
| Guided group tour (flat fee in addition to admission) | €95Booking at least 3 weeks in advance; maximum of 30 people recommended; 1 hr 30 min maximum. |
Free for children under 12 and for accompanying adults on school trips. The resource centre is free.
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 website, the permanent collections are fully accessible to visitors with reduced mobility.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 11 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
Free educational booklets featuring the beaver Nestor and MO-3PO for ages 8 to 12 and 12 to 16, available on request at reception; outings on weekends and during school holidays.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Gare de Troyes · 10-min walk
Troyes station is about a 10-minute walk away; about 1 hr 30 min by train from Paris Gare de l’Est.
By car
Information on car parks in Troyes: troyesparcauto.com.
Amenities & dining
- Museum shop
Museum bookshop.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Corporate events
Rooms for meetings, seminars, dinners and receptions; details and rates on the website.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 1.5 hrs |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes |
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Group guided tour of 1 hr 30 min maximum, by reservation. Free school visits with teaching resources to download, or guided by a mediator, by reservation. Guided visit for individual visitors on the first Sunday of the month. |
