Musée des Traditions Vigneronnes
Private, free-entry museum at the Caveau Bugiste in Vongnes, with a large collection of old tools for vines, wine and stone.
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About the museum
The Musée des Traditions Vigneronnes grew out of the wish of the Caveau Bugiste, a Bugey wine producer based in Vongnes since 1967, to preserve the memory of the gestures and know-how of earlier times. The two museums of the cellar opened in 1993 and 1997. Some of the objects come from the cellar’s own research, and others from a collection assembled over more than twenty years by Jean-Pierre Melin, a passionate Bugiste.
The museum holds about 1,500 tools and objects related to vine and wine work: fossous and départoirs for cultivation, rassiots, gauges and presses for winemaking, and cooperage tools such as verdondaines, jabloirs and doloires. Many pieces date from the 18th century, and some are rare or unique.
The site also includes a museum of stonemasonry tools housed in a grangeon, a collection of more than 800 corkscrews, a collection of liqueur glasses, a high-definition film called the Vinorama, and painting and sculpture exhibitions.
Highlights
- About 1,500 old tools for vines, wine and cooperage
- 18th-century pieces, some rare or unique
- Museum of stonemasonry tools in a grangeon
- More than 800 corkscrews
- Vinorama film about the Bugey, available in 8 languages
Permanent exhibitions
- Musée des Traditions Vigneronnes – More than 1,500 old tools tell the story of vine cultivation, winemaking, cooperage, distillation and tasting.
- Musée des outils des métiers de la pierre – A collection of tools used by quarrymen, stonecutters, masons and sculptors, displayed in a grangeon.
- Collection de tire-bouchons – More than 800 corkscrews, along with a collection of more than 500 liqueur glasses.
- Operated by
- Caveau Bugiste
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
| Groups (15+ people) | –Groups of 15 people or more on prior request: package including the film, a tasting and a self-guided visit of the museums; prices on request. |
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Free admission to the museums; wine tasting is also free.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
| Time needed | approx. 60 min |
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- Playground / play area
Outdoor play equipment for children and a picnic area, sheltered or in a flower-filled setting.
Getting there & parking
From Lyon: A42 towards Geneva, exit Ambérieu-en-Bugey, then D1075 and D1504 towards Belley and Vongnes. From Geneva: A40 towards Lyon, exit Éloise, then D992 towards Seyssel, Culoz, Ceyzérieu and Vongnes.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café: not available
- Restaurant: not available
- Museum shop
No food service or accommodation on site. Shop with Bugey wines and local produce; picnic area; pitches for motorhomes (24 hours free, France Passion partnership).
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Good to know | Allow about 1 hour for the museums, the reception area and a tasting, and 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours with the Vinorama film (free on request, in 8 languages) and a walk around the village. The production cellars cannot be visited. |
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