Le Grand Atelier, musée d'art et d'industrie

About the museum

The museum occupies part of the rifle assembly workshop of the former arms factory of Châtellerault, founded in 1819. It first made edged weapons, then firearms from 1830, until it closed in 1968. The buildings are listed as historic monuments.

After the site closed, Count Bernard de Lassée installed his vehicle collection there and opened the place to the public: the museum of automobiles and technology was born. When the count died in 1991, the town of Châtellerault bought part of the collections. After the site was modernized, the museum became the Musée Auto Moto Vélo and received the Musée de France label in 2002.

In 2019 the museum was reorganized and took the name Le Grand Atelier, musée d’art et d’industrie. Over about 3,000 m², three routes complement each other: Auto Moto Vélo, with more than two hundred vehicles and objects from the early 19th century to the 2000s; the industrial and social history of the arms factory; and the Cabaret du Chat Noir, which recalls the famous Montmartre cabaret and its shadow theatre, founded by Rodolphe Salis, a native of Châtellerault. The museum is run by Grand Châtellerault.

Highlights

• More than two hundred vehicles and objects, from the early 19th century to the 2000s
• Industrial and social history of the arms factory (1819–1968)
• The Cabaret du Chat Noir and its shadow theatre
• Housed in the assembly workshop of the former factory

Permanent exhibitions

• Auto Moto Vélo – A route through the history of land transport from the 19th century to the present, with more than two hundred vehicles and objects.
• Manufacture d'armes de Châtellerault – This route traces the industrial and social history of the factory, from its founding in 1819 to its closure in 1968.
• Cabaret du Chat Noir – A space devoted to Rodolphe Salis’s artistic cabaret and its famous shadow theatre.

Operated by

Communauté d'agglomération Grand Châtellerault

Admission & discounts

The conditions for free admission and reduced rates are available at the reception desk.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Baby changing facilities
• Playground / play area
• Kids’ birthday parties

The museum has signed the Môm’Art charter for welcoming children. It offers family tours, the activity “L’Express du Grand Atelier, Retour vers le passé” (about 2 hours), a children’s area supervised by a parent, and birthday parties for children aged 6 to 12.

Getting there & parking

The museum is on the site of the Manu. A bicycle welcome point (Accueil Vélo) is offered to cyclists.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Lockers
• Wi-Fi

Free Wi-Fi for everyone. Cloakroom and lockers accessible to all. Toilets with a baby-changing table. Shop with a wide selection of products related to the exhibitions. Bicycle welcome point: secure bike racks, luggage lockers, a repair kit and charging points for e-bikes.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Corporate events

Spaces are rented for professional events: exhibition halls, a teaching room and the first-floor hall.

Plan your visit