Musée de l'horlogerie et du décolletage

About the museum

For three centuries, the people of the Arve valley have mass-produced small metal parts. At the beginning of the 18th century, this work was a peasant craft, sold to watchmaking factories, mainly in Geneva. A watchmaking school was founded in Cluses in 1848; it is today the Lycée Charles Poncet. In the 20th century, precision turning (décolletage) took over from watchmaking.

The museum is set up on the first floor of a building that was the first industrial site in Cluses, built where the river was powerful enough. The company Carpano & Pons, originator of the Mitchell fishing reel and the Somfy motor for roller shutters, was based here; remains of a hydroelectric installation survive. The building belongs to the town, and the museum has been housed there since 1993.

The collections were already assembled in the 19th century at the National School of Watchmaking in Cluses: timekeeping instruments, pupils’ work and products of the local industry. Entrusted in 1993 to the Association du Musée de l’Horlogerie et du Décolletage, they have been managed since 2012 by the Cluses Arve et Montagnes community of municipalities. The collection of timekeeping instruments is described as unique.

Highlights

• Collection of timekeeping instruments
• Work produced by pupils of the watchmaking school
• History of precision turning in the Arve valley
• Former Carpano & Pons industrial site
• Treasure hunts and escape game for families

Permanent exhibition

• Collection d’instruments de mesure du temps – Timekeeping instruments, work by pupils of the watchmaking school and products of the local industry, which tell the story of the pursuit of precision in watchmaking.

Founded

1993

Operated by

Communauté de communes Cluses Arve et Montagnes

Admission & discounts

Free admission: First Sunday of the month, from September to June (free admission).

Accessibility

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

The museum holds the “Tourisme & Handicap” label (for hearing, intellectual, motor and visual disabilities). Two wheelchairs on the ground floor are available free of charge on loan, as are seat-canes, an induction loop at reception, disabled parking spaces, one of them 25 metres from the entrance; booklets in large print, in Braille and in Easy-to-Read format (FALC); an audio guide in French Sign Language; magnifying glasses and torches on request. The videos are not translated or audio-described. According to the homepage, the lift is currently out of order for an indefinite period and access is via another route. Animals are refused, except guide dogs and assistance dogs.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Kids’ birthday parties

Workshops for children and during school holidays (from age 4 or for families), sensory discovery visit on Fridays, activity booklet, self-guided treasure hunts, the “La Faille” escape game on request and the “Mon anniversaire au Musée” package.

Getting there & parking

By car: A40 motorway, exit 19 “Cluses-centre”. The museum is on the first floor of the Espace Carpano & Pons.

Amenities & dining

Drinking fountain on the ground floor; seating in all rooms.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit