Musée de la guerre de 1870 de Loigny-la-Bataille
Museum devoted to the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 and the Battle of Loigny, housed in the former presbytery beside the Saint-Lucain church.
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About the museum
After the 1870 war, the priests of the Loigny parish gathered military objects from the battlefield, and the collection grew through donations. A first small museum opened in the presbytery in 1907. A newer building, constructed in 1956 between the presbytery and the church, closed in 2015.
After four years of works, new exhibition spaces opened on September 16, 2017, in the former presbytery next to the Saint-Lucain church, covering about 250 m². The church was rebuilt after a national fundraising appeal launched in 1871. Its crypt holds the remains of about 1,300 soldiers as well as the tombs of several generals, including Louis-Gaston de Sonis and Athanase de Charette. The choir and the crypt have been classified as Monuments historiques since 1983.
The route presents weapons, costumes and works related to the conflict, including drawings by Paul Richer, lithographs by Hippolyte Lalaisse and a large painting by Antoine-Eugène Renouard. The museum is run by the Communauté de communes Cœur de Beauce. An augmented reality visit lets visitors explore the 1870 battlefield on a tablet.
Highlights
- Weapons, costumes and objects from the 1870 war
- Augmented reality visit of the battlefield on a tablet
- Neighbouring Saint-Lucain church, with its crypt and two large paintings by Lionel Royer
- Drawings by Paul Richer, lithographs by Hippolyte Lalaisse and a large painting by Antoine-Eugène Renouard
- Comprehensive educational offer for school groups
- Founded
- 1907
- Operated by
- Communauté de communes Cœur de Beauce
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €6 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €4Children aged 6 to 17, war veterans, students, job seekers and people with disabilities |
| Children & teens | €4free up to age 5 · Reduced rate from age 6 to 17; free up to and including age 5. |
| Visitors with disabilities | €4Reduced rate. |
| Students & apprentices | €4Reduced rate. |
| Groups | –Guided tour for groups of more than 10 people, by reservation: €8 per adult and €6 per child aged 6 to 17. |
| Pass Dunois rate | €4 |
| CNAS rate | €4 |
| Augmented reality visit (tablet rental, up to 5 people per tablet) | €3.50 |
| School class: guided tour of the museum or the battlefield (1 hour) | €65 |
| School class: educational workshop (1 hour 30 minutes) | €75 |
Free admission for children up to and including age 5, members of the association Les Amis de Sonis-Loigny and members of the clergy.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 5 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
Trail games for primary and lower secondary pupils can be downloaded from the website; they were originally designed for school classes.
Getting there & parking
The museum is 45 minutes from Chartres and Orléans, 1 hour from Blois, Pithiviers and Vendôme, and 1 hour 15 minutes from Paris.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
For school groups picnicking on site, a room, toilets and the museum park are available.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 1.5 hrs |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Guided tours for groups of more than 10 people, available all year by reservation and led by mediation professionals (1 hour 30 minutes). Classes are welcome all year by reservation, Tuesday to Friday, with guided tours, workshops, a teaching booklet and trail games for primary and collège (lower secondary) pupils. Booking: mediation@museedelaguerre1870.fr or +33 2 37 36 13 25. |
