Musée Jean-Marie Somet
Small museum in Villars devoted to the memory of miners and local history, open Saturday afternoons, with free admission.
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About the museum
The museum bears the name of Jean-Marie Somet, a former miner from Villars. A survivor of the disaster at the La Chana shaft, he was behind the creation of the museum. This coal dust explosion on January 21, 1942 cost the lives of 65 miners. A firedamp explosion at the Beaunier shaft had already killed 39 people on October 11, 1867.
The museum evokes the hard and often dangerous work at the bottom of the mine, as well as Villars’ industrial past, notably ribbon weaving (passementerie). It reopened to the public in December 2017. The visit does not include an underground gallery, but offers detailed explanations of the lives of miners and the history of the town.
Highlights
- Memory of Villars’ miners and the La Chana disaster
- History of work at the bottom of the mine
- Industrial past of the town, including passementerie
- Free admission, open Saturday afternoons
Permanent exhibition
- Parcours permanent sur la mine et l'histoire de Villars – The route presents miners’ work, the memory of mining accidents and the local history of Villars, including passementerie.
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Free admission.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By car
Parking available
A car park is signposted near the museum, on Rue du Puits Gallois.
Get directionsAmenities & 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
| Good to know | The museum is located on Rue du Puits Gallois. The town’s website offers detailed pages about the mine, the miners and the passementerie. |
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