Atelier-Musée du Chapeau

About the museum

Chazelles-sur-Lyon, in the Monts du Lyonnais, lived for centuries from the making of felt hats. Hatters are documented there from the 16th century. At the beginning of the 20th century the town became France's main centre for luxury felt hats, with 28 factories and 2,500 workers in 1930. After the war, changing fashions led to the decline of this industry; the last factory closed in 1997.

The Musée du Chapeau opened in 1983 in the former Blanchard factory, on the initiative of the archaeology group of the Maison des Jeunes et de la Culture. An extension in 1991 presented the trades of milliner and hat former, and the making of straw hats. A training centre was set up in 1992, a shop in 1994, then a hatter-milliner post and a production workshop in 1998. The museum received the “Musée de France” label in 2002.

The new Atelier-Musée was inaugurated in 2013 on the site of La Chapellerie, a former factory listed in the supplementary inventory of historic monuments since 1999. It preserves the memory of hat-making and safeguards its know-how, with machines in operation. Its collection comprises about 4,000 headwear items and hats, of which more than 400 are on display to tell over 900 years of headwear history in France.

Highlights

• Guided tour of the technical area with a hat-shaping demonstration
• About 4,000 headwear items and hats, more than 400 on display
• Former hat factory listed in the supplementary inventory of historic monuments
• Production workshop with machines in operation
• Workshops and visits for children, families and groups

Permanent exhibitions

• Côté Mode : du Moyen-Âge à la Haute-Couture – A route through about 900 years of headwear history in France, with more than 400 caps and hats in historical and thematic display cases.
• Partie technique et atelier – Machines in operation and hat-shaping demonstrations in the former La Chapellerie factory.

Founded

1983

Visitors per year

approx. 26,270

Admission & discounts

The guided tour is included in the admission price. Also free for holders of the Pass’Pro Loire. Loyalty card: first entry at full price, then three free visits, valid for one year. The museum is a partner of the Pass Patrimoine and part of the Pass Musée Forez-Est. Payment by bank card, cheque, cash or Chèques-vacances.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• 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

Ramps with a regulation gradient and lifts. A wheelchair and folding seats are available at reception, as well as folding stools for the visit. Access is through a paved courtyard (listed site): vehicles can drop off wheelchair users at the foot of the entrance footbridge, on request when booking. Visits adapted for people with visual, hearing and intellectual disabilities are offered, along with mediation tools.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Kids’ birthday parties

Themed workshops for children from age 6 during zone A school holidays, family visits with puzzles for 5 to 10-year-olds, and birthday parties from age 3 by reservation. Free for children under 6; Pass Tribu at €25 for 2 adults and 2 children.

Getting there & parking

By car: motorway A6 (exit Valvert), A71 and A89 (exit Montbrison – Montrond-les-Bains), or A7 (exit Vienne) then A72 (exit 9 Saint-Galmier) towards Chazelles-sur-Lyon. From the bus stops, small red pedestrian signs point the way to “La Chapellerie”.

Amenities & dining

• Restaurant
• Museum shop
• Lockers

Museum hat shop. The restaurant Au chapelier gourmand is on site. Lockers cost €1 or work with a trolley coin. A bag-free room for groups, by reservation. The museum website does not mention Wi-Fi for visitors.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit