Musée Champollion – Les Écritures du Monde

About the museum

Jean-François Champollion was born in Figeac on December 23, 1790. On September 14, 1822, he announced that he had deciphered the hieroglyphic system. In the 1970s the town of Figeac bought and restored his birthplace to create a museum in his honour. This first museum opened in 1986.

From the 1990s the town council wanted to expand it and broaden its collections. In 1993 the idea of a museum of the world's writing systems emerged, closely linked to Champollion's work. It opened in July 2007 as the Musée Champollion – Les Écritures du Monde. The renovation and extension were entrusted to the architecture firm Moatti & Rivière. The building stands out for its double façade: a medieval stone façade and a second façade of copper and glass, decorated with writing signs from around the world, the “façade aux mille lettres” (“façade of a thousand letters”) designed by Pierre di Sciullo.

The museum belongs to the town of Figeac and holds the “Musée de France” label. The permanent display is organized in numbered rooms from 0 to 6. It presents Champollion and Egypt, the birth of writing, the invention of alphabets in the Mediterranean, the book as humanity's memory, and then writing, power and citizenship. The museum celebrates its 40th anniversary on December 19 and 20, 2026.

Highlights

• Champollion's birthplace
• The “façade of a thousand letters” in copper and glass
• A route through seven rooms on the history of writing
• A room devoted to Champollion and Egypt
• A tactile model and Braille terminals for all visitors

Permanent exhibitions

• Champollion et l'Égypte – Room 0 presents Champollion's life and the birth of Egyptology.
• Naissance des écritures – Rooms 2 and 3 show how the first writing systems emerged around the world.
• Alphabets, livre et citoyenneté – Rooms 4 to 6 trace the invention of alphabets in the Mediterranean, the book as humanity's memory, and the role of writing in power and civic life.

Founded

1986

Operated by

Ville de Figeac

Admission & discounts

Free admission: First Sunday of each month (except July and August), and for visitors under 18, Friends of the Museum, tour guides, ICOM members, AAH or CMI recipients, minimum-income beneficiaries and press card holders, with proof

The base rates (€6.50 and €3.50) apply outside temporary exhibitions; during an exhibition, the combined museum and exhibition ticket costs €7.50 (full price) or €4.50 (reduced).

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours
• Easy-to-read materials
• Audio description

A lift serves all rooms, and a wheelchair is available to borrow. A tactile model of the whole museum is at the reception, and each room has a tactile terminal with Braille text, raised-line maps and object casts. Guided tours are offered in French Sign Language, with LSF videos on screen. An audio-described tour can be downloaded and used with the free Handivisites app. An easy-read booklet is available. Animals are not admitted, except guide dogs.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations

During school holidays, game-based tours for ages 7 to 12 (€5.50) and a clay workshop for ages 6 to 12 (€5.50) are offered. A family visit on writing supports (€5.50) is also available. Two visit booklets are sold at the reception: “Le Petit détective” for ages 5 to 7 (€1) and “Carnet de voyage” for ages 7 to 12 (€1.50). Some dates offer family torch-lit visits and museum investigations.

Getting there & parking

The museum is in the town centre of Figeac, on Place Champollion. By car: A20 motorway, exit 56. By air: flights to Toulouse, Rodez, Brive or Aurillac.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Museum shop.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit