Musée de la Batellerie d'Allier Pierre-Mondanel
Museum in Pont-du-Château on the former navigation of the Allier and the quarrying of bituminous limestone; currently closed for works.
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About the museum
The museum tells the river history of Pont-du-Château, which was the main port of the Clermont region from the 16th to the 19th century. Timber, coal, wine, Volvic stone and hemp passed through its quays, most often bound for Paris, and the work of the boatmen made the town prosperous.
The museum is named after Pierre Mondanel, a local historian and author of a reference work on the former boating trade on the Allier and the Dore. His collection originated from the donation of objects and documents he had gathered over some fifteen years. His daughter entrusted them to the local association Amis du vieux Pont-du-Château, and objects brought by residents later added to the collection.
The route includes an “âge marin” (age of seafaring) section, with tools and everyday objects of the boatmen, typical boat models and art objects linked to the river world, and an “âge bitumineux” (bitumen age) section devoted to the quarrying of bituminous limestone and the bitumen factory, which was for a long time important to the town’s economy.
Highlights
- Models of boats from the Allier
- Tools and everyday objects of the boatmen
- Area devoted to bituminous limestone and the bitumen factory
- Collection from the donation of historian Pierre Mondanel
- Operated by
- Clermont Auvergne Métropole
- Director
- Armand Barrière
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €3 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €2Over 60s, holders of the CEZAM card, groups of 10 or more paying visitors, family ticket “billet tribu” (2 adults and 2 young people up to 18), groups guided by Clermont Auvergne Tourisme, holders of the Clermont Pass Tourisme from the second museum visited |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 18 · Free up to and including age 18, upon proof. |
| Seniors | €2Over 60, upon proof. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · Free for people with disabilities and their companion, upon proof. |
| Students & apprentices | freeFree for students, with proof dated less than 6 months ago. |
| Groups | –Educational groups from outside the Métropole and groups from the social, hospital or disability sectors: €36, admission included. Other groups: €0.50 per person in addition to the admission fee. Nursery and primary school classes from the communes of the Métropole are free. |
| Pass découverte (valid for one year, one entry to each museum of the Métropole) | €10 |
| Carte musées (valid for one year, unlimited entry to the museums of the Métropole) | €20 |
Free admission: First Sunday of each month
Free upon proof for many categories, including young people up to 18, students, job seekers, recipients of social minimum benefits, holders of the Pass Région, the Carte Citéjeune or the Carte Culture, ICOM members, journalists, teachers, and staff of the Métropole and its 21 communes, among others.
Accessibility
The museum is currently closed for works.
Kids & families
The museum is currently closed for works.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Croix-Blanche
Bus: Croix-Blanche stop (lines E5, P30, P84, 170 and 230).
Amenities & dining
The museum is currently closed for works.
Events & venue rental
The museum is currently closed for works.
Plan your visit
| School programs | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | The museum is closed for works. For school classes, visits led by mediators are free for groups from Clermont and charged at €36 per hour for others; self-guided visits are free. |
