Musée Alice Taverne

About the museum

The Musée Alice Taverne opened to the public in 1951 in Ambierle, in a middle-class house dating from the 17th and 18th centuries. It is named after its founder, who from the 1930s onward gathered everyday objects from rural life and carried out research into the customs and craft skills of the Roannais, the Forez and the whole of the Loire département.

Drawing on this scholarly base, Alice Taverne single-handedly created a highly personal museum display: a theatre of rural and village life from the 1850s to the Second World War. The permanent display covers 1,600 m² and features reconstructed scenes such as the peasant living room (salle paysanne), the village grocery (épicerie), the cooper's workshop, the coaching inn at the post station (auberge relais de poste), the seamstress's workshop, the surgeon's consulting room, the old-fashioned schoolroom and the bonesetter's room (rebouteux).

The third floor, about 140 m², is reserved for temporary exhibitions.

Highlights

• Over 1,600 m² of scenes from life in times past
• Peasant living room, village grocery and cooper's workshop
• Post-station coaching inn around 1850 and old-fashioned schoolroom
• At the seamstress, the surgeon and the bonesetter
• “Défi en famille” puzzle booklet for ages 7 to 99

Permanent exhibition

• Parcours permanent du musée Alice Taverne – Over 1,600 m² of reconstructed scenes of rural and village life in the Loire, from the 1850s to the Second World War.

Founded

1951

Admission & discounts

The ticket gives access to both the permanent and temporary exhibitions. Free entry on the first Sunday of the month does not apply. Free entry for holders of the museum membership card. Payment by cash, cheque, bank card, Pass’Région, ANCV Chèques-vacances or Chèque Culture.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: not available
• 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

For visitors with reduced mobility, the visit is limited to the first floor: the upper floors are reached by stairs only. Car access up to the entrance door and reserved parking close to the entrance.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide

The “Défi en famille” puzzle booklet (€2), for the whole family aged 7 to 99, contains puzzles for opening three mystery chests. It is available at reception all year round.

Getting there & parking

By car: from the A6, A77 and N7, then the D8; from the A72, exit Saint-Germain-Laval, then the D8; from Lyon, the A89 then N7, exit Saint-Germain-Lespinasse; from Clermont-Ferrand, the A89 exit Noirétable, then the D53 and D8.

Amenities & dining

No restaurant at the museum, which closes at midday: two restaurants in the village of Ambierle, including Le Prieuré (gourmet restaurant).

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit