Musée de l'Imprimerie de Nantes
Association-run museum of printing and the book trades, where historic machines are shown in operation during a daily guided tour.
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About the museum
The museum opened on December 6, 1986 as a municipal printing museum. It was founded by Sylvain Chiffoleau, master printer, and Robert Colombeau, typesetter, with the support of successive city administrations.
The collections belong to the City of Nantes, which received them as a donation. The association Pro arte graphica runs the museum under an agreement with the City. It employs four staff members from the graphic trades and relies on about sixty volunteers. The City provides roughly 700 m² in the media library building.
The museum presents itself as a conservatory of the working methods and trades of the book. The visit shows typography, mechanical typesetting and lithography equipment in operation, from the beginnings of printing to the present day. It also offers courses for adults and children, events and an exhibition gallery.
Highlights
- Daily demonstration of printing machines in operation
- Typography, mechanical typesetting and lithography
- Guided tour every day at 14:30
- Printing courses for adults and children
- Museum gallery devoted to prints and artists’ books
- Founded
- 1986
- Operated by
- Association Pro arte graphica (convention avec la Ville de Nantes)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €8 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €5School groups and students. |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 4 · Free admission for children under 5. |
| Students & apprentices | €5Student and school rate. |
| Groups | –Booking is required for groups and classes; a specific rate is not stated on the website. |
Free admission with the Pass Nantes and with other cards listed by the museum (free-admission cards, training and tourism cards, municipal employees, RéMut members).
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
Only partly suitable for kidsRecommended for ages 6+
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 4 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
- Hands-on stations
Workshops for children from age 6 (monotype, linocut, typesetting in Gutenberg’s manner) and courses for children. No specific family tour is mentioned.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 2 hrs |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Daily guided tour at 14:30, no booking required for individual visitors; it lasts about 2 hours and includes the demonstration of machines in operation. Groups and classes must book. |
