Musée des Commerces et des Marques

About the museum

The Musée des Commerces et des Marques is one of the two museums of the Muséales de Tourouvre, alongside the Musée de l’Émigration française au Canada. It belongs to the Communauté de communes des Hauts du Perche and presents an ethnographic collection of objects from shops, brands and advertising, first displayed in Lignerolles in the museum of the old-fashioned grocer's shop.

Most of the collection comes from the collector Pierre Marzorati, who wanted to preserve the memory of specialised and neighbourhood shops in the countryside. Most objects date from the late 19th century to the 1950s, when the consumer society emerged. The museum's subtitle, “Du panier au caddie” (from the basket to the shopping trolley), sums up this two-century journey.

The visit is spread over three levels. The first shows reconstructed shops: a grocer's, a bar-tabac, a hairdresser's and a toy shop. The second is devoted to the industrial age, with department stores, the birth of brands and advertising. The third follows today's shops. The museum also showcases brands, companies and shops from Normandy.

Highlights

• Reconstructed shops: grocer's, bar-tabac, hairdresser's and toy shop
• Collection of several tens of thousands of shop and advertising objects
• Three-level route, from rural trade to today
• Brands, companies and shops from Normandy
• Joint ticket possible with the Musée de l’Émigration française au Canada

Permanent exhibition

• Du panier au caddie : deux siècles de consommation – Permanent exhibition on three levels: reconstructed shops, the industrial age with brands and advertising, then today's shops.

Operated by

Communauté de communes des Hauts du Perche

Admission & discounts

Rates for a single museum (Musée des Commerces et des Marques or Musée de l’Émigration française au Canada). Tickets are valid all day on the day of purchase. Payment by bank card, cheque or cash. A “Pass Inter-Sites” is mentioned on the website.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The exhibition areas are accessible to people with reduced mobility. Dogs are not admitted, except assistance dogs.

Kids & families

The level with reconstructed shops includes a toy shop devoted to pre-war children's games.

Getting there & parking

The museum is on the RN12, about 35 minutes' drive from Alençon and about 1 h 30 min from Paris, Le Mans and Caen.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Shop open to all during opening hours: books, stationery, gifts, toys, textiles and food products from the Perche and Quebec.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit