Musée de la Mine de Bosmoreau-les-Mines

About the museum

Coal was discovered in 1765 in the village of Lasmais, today Chez Lameix. A concession was granted in 1784, and extraction remained small-scale for a long time, using shallow shafts. From 1855 the mine became industrial around the Puits Marthe, 123 meters deep, and the arrival of the railway in 1883 made it easier to sell the coal. Production reached around 40,000 tonnes a year before it stopped in 1922.

The site was converted into a brickworks between 1923 and 1935. From 1942 to 1958 open-pit mining took over, with trucks and large mechanical shovels, before the mines finally closed in 1958.

The mining museum opened on December 6, 2003. It is housed in the former schools and outbuildings of the town hall and is run by the Association des Amis du Musée. Seven rooms tell the story of the mines and the lives of miners from 1784 to 1958. The displays include tools, period documents and photographs, miners' helmets, lists of miners, and a reconstruction of a kitchen from a coron (miners' housing estate). All visits are guided.

Since December 2004, the “Les chemins de la mine” trails extend the visit to the former mining sites, with a 2 km yellow trail and a 5 km red trail.

Highlights

• Seven rooms on coal mining and the lives of miners, 1784–1958
• Reconstruction of a kitchen in a miners' house in the Creuse (coron)
• Collection of miners' helmets and lists of miners
• “Les chemins de la mine” hiking trails of 2 and 5 km
• Visits always guided by volunteers

Permanent exhibitions

• Histoire de la mine de Bosmoreau, 1784-1958 – Seven rooms on extraction techniques, miners' trades, daily life in the coron and social struggles.
• Les chemins de la mine – Two marked hiking trails through the former mining sites, 2 km and 5 km long, starting from the museum.

Founded

2003

Operated by

Commune de Bosmoreau-les-Mines (gestion par l’Association des Amis du Musée)

Admission & discounts

All visits are guided.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The museum is housed in the former schools and outbuildings of the town hall of Bosmoreau-les-Mines, in the Creuse department.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

The reception area, separate from the museum, has the ticket office, a souvenir shop and a bar in the style of an estaminet. Drinks can be enjoyed indoors or in the shaded courtyard of the museum.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit