Musée de la mine du Molay-Littry
Museum in Le Molay-Littry on the Littry coal mine, with a reconstructed gallery, a steam engine and the history of Norman miners.
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About the museum
Coal was discovered at Littry in 1741, and the Compagnie des Mines de Littry was founded in 1747. Mining peaked around 1840 with nearly 950 workers, then declined from the 1860s onward. The company was dissolved in 1879, and the shafts were closed and flooded in 1880. Two shafts near Bernesq were briefly reopened from 1941 to 1950.
The museum opened in 1907, at the same time as a lace school, on the former site of the Frandemiche shaft. It is considered one of the oldest mining museums in France. The original collection was assembled by Sosthène Lefrançois, with donations from Aimé Labbey and Durand. A reconstructed mine gallery opened in 1971, and the rooms were renovated in 1997 and again in 2020 with support from the Département.
The visit begins with a documentary of about ten minutes and lasts around 1 hour 30 minutes. It includes a steam engine made by the Périer brothers, a reconstructed gallery of about 70 meters, a retable of Saint Barbara, patron saint of miners, and an animated model at 1:10 scale of Shaft No. 5 at Bruay-en-Artois.
Highlights
- Reconstructed mine gallery of about 70 meters
- Steam engine made by the Périer brothers
- Retable of Saint Barbara, patron saint of miners
- Animated model of Shaft No. 5 at Bruay-en-Artois (on loan from the Musée des Arts et Métiers)
- Wooden pulleys and wagons
Permanent exhibition
- Parcours permanent : la mine de charbon de Littry – Route through the history of mining, with a steam engine, a reconstructed gallery of about 70 meters, wooden pulleys and wagons, and an animated model of a mine shaft.
- Founded
- 1907
- Visitors per year
- approx. 8,930
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €6 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | €3free up to age 5 · Free admission for children under 6. |
| Groups (15+ people) | €5 per personAdult groups of 15 or more: €5; children in groups: €3; accompanying adults free. |
| Combined ticket with the Musée de Marcy, adult | €9 |
| Combined ticket with the Musée de Marcy, child | €4 |
| Group combined ticket, adult | €8 |
| Group combined ticket, child | €4 |
The combined ticket gives access to the Musée de la Mine and the Musée de Marcy (Moulin de Marcy). No free day is specified.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Time needed | approx. 1.5 hrs |
|---|---|
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 5 |
- Family tours & workshops
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
Playful visits in summer and downloadable activity sheets for children aged 5 to 6 and 7 to 12.
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 |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Self-guided visit, preceded by a documentary of about 10 minutes. Playful visits on Wednesdays at 10:00 according to the museum's website (in July and August), by reservation at 02 31 22 89 10. Downloadable teaching resources for primary schools, collèges and teachers. |
