Musée Charles Portal

About the museum

The Musée Charles Portal belongs to the Société des Amis du Vieux Cordes association, founded in 1904, which has run it since its creation in 1936 by Charles Portal. It is staffed by volunteers, with the help of one employee. The museum has held the “Musée de France” designation since an order of January 4, 2002; its official name is “Musée Charles Portal – Art, Histoire et Patrimoine du Pays Cordais”.

It is housed in the Maison des Ormeaux, a listed historic monument complex made up of the Porte des Ormeaux, a military building from the founding of Cordes remodelled in the 14th century, and the Maison Fabre, built against the 13th-century ramparts. Its façade bears five Gothic arches. The building itself is part of the visit.

The collections, displayed in some 500 m², trace the history of Cordes and the Pays Cordais from prehistory to the 19th century: Gallo-Roman remains, Visigothic and Merovingian periods, then the life of the medieval town. Visitors can see a diorama of Cordes in the 13th century, slideshows and films, including those on water, the Halle well, weaving and embroidery.

Highlights

• Diorama of Cordes in the 13th century
• Film on the Halle well and its reconstructed squirrel-cage wheel
• Remains from prehistory, the Gallo-Roman period and the early Middle Ages
• Porte des Ormeaux and Maison Fabre as historic monuments
• Pay-as-you-wish admission

Permanent exhibition

• Collections permanentes – Several rooms trace the history of Cordes and the Pays Cordais from prehistory to the 19th century, with a diorama, slideshows and films.

Founded

1936

Operated by

Société des Amis du Vieux Cordes

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Free visits are pay-as-you-wish; the association invites visitors to support the museum and the preservation of the town’s heritage.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: not available
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Only the first floor is step-free; the museum’s four levels are linked by stairs, and a lift is only envisaged as part of a future renovation. Access streets are steep and unevenly paved. A few reserved car spaces are about a hundred metres away. Hard-of-hearing visitors can visit thanks to panels and captions; only the films have sound. Partly tactile guided visits for small groups of visually impaired people are available on request.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The Porte des Ormeaux is on the western side of the town, at the town entrance, about 100 m from the tourist office. Cordes-sur-Ciel is 20 km from Albi and 80 km from Toulouse.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Association bookshop and postcards.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit