Maison natale de Louis Braille

About the museum

Louis Braille was born on January 4, 1809, in this large farmhouse in the Brie region, built in the mid-18th century, in the main room. The family left the house around 1880; it was then rented to several families and nearly forgotten.

Jean Roblin, founder of the association Les amis de Louis Braille, saved the site: the association bought the house in 1952 and welcomed the first visitors in 1953. In 1956 it gave the house to the town of Coupvray, on condition that management be entrusted to the World Organisation for the Social Promotion of the Blind, now the World Blind Union. The house then became a municipal museum, with Jean Roblin as its first curator. It was listed as a historic monument in 1966 and restored from 1995 to 1997.

Since 2011 the museum has held the designation “Musée de France” and the “Maison des Illustres” label, as well as the “Tourisme et Handicap” label. The visit covers three rooms: the main room, the workshop of his father, a saddler, where Louis’s childhood accident took place, and his bedroom, devoted to the history of Braille writing and the education of the blind. The collections comprise around 1,000 objects: reading and writing tools for the blind, farm tools linked to viticulture, domestic furniture from the Brie region and personal belongings of Louis Braille.

Highlights

• Main room where Louis Braille was born in 1809
• Father’s workshop, site of the childhood accident
• Bedroom devoted to the invention of Braille
• Typewriters, tablets and raised-letter books for the blind
• Garden of the Five Senses

Permanent exhibition

• La maison natale de Louis Braille – Guided tour of the main room, the father’s workshop and Louis Braille’s bedroom, with objects related to the history of writing for the blind.

Founded

1956

Operated by

Commune de Coupvray (propriétaire) ; gestion avec le Comité français Louis Braille pour l’Union mondiale des aveugles

Admission & discounts

Preferential rate for visitors to the Cité internationale de la langue française (Château de Villers-Cotterêts), and vice versa.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• 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

“Tourisme et Handicap” label for visual, hearing, and cognitive or mental disabilities. Because of the historic building, the main room is difficult to reach for people with reduced mobility and is not accessible to wheelchair users. Small-group visits are offered to visitors with disabilities.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

Family workshops are planned during the winter and spring school holidays; dates are published in the museum’s news section.

Getting there & parking

By car: A4 towards Metz/Nancy, exit 14 “Val d’Europe / Parc Disney”, then follow signs to Coupvray (about 10 minutes). About 30 minutes from Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport and 45 minutes from Paris-Orly.

Amenities & 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