Musée de la Vallée de Villé

About the museum

The museum and the association that runs it were born in 1980 from the shared will of the cantonal elected officials, the Société d’histoire du Val de Villé and committed residents to preserve the valley’s heritage. It first opened in Albé in the former town hall, made available by the commune, with works financed through a contrat de pays. From the outset, it combined the displays with demonstrations: a still, a bread oven and a 19th-century loom were in operation.

In 1992, a group of buildings on the same square came up for sale: a day labourer’s house dating from 1616 and a 1709 farmhouse of the Vosges type. Acquiring them made it possible to recreate living spaces (stube, kitchen, bedrooms) and farming spaces (cellar, cowshed, hayloft), and then to extend the route. Later, the association acquired the Meyblum distillery and the former guardhouse, which now house the reception, the shop and the bookshop.

The route shows how the valley’s inhabitants lived from the Ancien Régime to the late 19th century, in a fully restored 18th-century farmhouse, with a reconstructed school room and an 1873 sandstone pavilion. The museum is run by a team of volunteers and holds demonstrations on Sundays.

Highlights

• 1709 farmhouse and 1616 day labourer’s house
• Reconstructed living spaces: stube, kitchen, bedroom, cowshed, hayloft, school room
• Meyblum distillery with a working still
• 1873 sandstone pavilion with a mansard roof
• Demonstrations of traditional crafts on Sundays

Permanent exhibitions

• Ferme de 1709 et maison de journalier de 1616 – Reconstructed living spaces (stube, kitchen, bedrooms, cowshed, hayloft, school room) showing everyday life in the valley from the Ancien Régime to the late 19th century.
• Distillerie Meyblum et corps de garde – Former distillery with a working still, next to the former guardhouse that serves as reception, shop and bookshop.

Founded

1980

Operated by

Association du musée de la Vallée de Villé

Admission & discounts

Admission is free for members of the museum association and for holders of the Alsace tourism professionals’ card.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: not available
• Accessible restroom
• 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 main building has three levels connected by old, narrow staircases, with no lift; only the distillery area is accessible for visitors with reduced mobility. Disabled parking spaces are located opposite the museum and beside the presbytery, and adapted toilets are accessible in the courtyard. The reception team assists visitors with disabilities.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Stroller-friendly: not available

The museum offers families workshops and activities to discover the valley’s heritage, for example demonstrations of wool spinning or baking bread in a wood-fired oven. The narrow stairs and lack of a lift make the upper floors difficult with a stroller.

Getting there & parking

The museum is in the centre of the village, on Place du Tilleul. It is reached on foot via two lanes running alongside the town hall and the distillery.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Bookshop and shop near the distillery; toilets in the courtyard.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit