Musée du Scribe

About the museum

The museum is the work of collector Jean-Louis Bonnefille, a retired teacher born in Saint-Christol-lez-Alès. For more than sixty years he gathered thousands of objects related to writing. They are now displayed in part of the stone outbuildings of a 17th-century château in the centre of the village, which have been fully restored.

The route covers seven themed rooms and traces about 5,000 years of writing history, from the first pictograms to illuminated manuscripts. It presents the evolution of writing surfaces, from clay tablet to paper, as well as inkwells, inks, more than 7,000 pens and writing instruments. A 1920s classroom lets visitors try calligraphy with pen and ink.

The museum also runs calligraphy and illumination courses, workshops for children and lectures, and lends twelve traveling exhibitions on writing. It has held the “Qualité Tourisme” label since 2011.

Highlights

• More than 7,000 pens sorted by type
• Inkwells, inks and writing instruments from every era
• Writing surfaces, from clay tablet to paper
• 1920s classroom with an introduction to calligraphy
• Audio guides in French and English

Permanent exhibitions

• Supports d’écriture – How writing surfaces evolved, from clay tablet and papyrus to parchment and paper.
• Plumes, encriers et encres – More than 7,000 pens, inkwells in faience, crystal or Regulus metal, and bottles of ink from old brands.
• Instruments d’écriture et salle de classe des années 1920 – Styli, reed pens, pen holders and nib cutters, plus a classroom from the past where you can try calligraphy.

Admission & discounts

Payment by bank card, check, cash or holiday vouchers (chèques-vacances). Calligraphy and writing courses for adults (€10 to €70) and children's holiday workshops (€5) are offered separately by reservation.

Accessibility

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

The museum states that it is fully accessible to all categories of disability: motor, cognitive, visual and hearing.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations

The audio guides offer commentary tailored to children. During school holidays, workshops for children take place at the museum: Gothic calligraphy for pupils from CM1 to Terminale, writing with a metal nib for ages 6 to 12, and recycled-paper making open to all ages. These workshops cost €5.

Getting there & parking

The museum is next to the church, 400 meters from the village obelisk. It is close to Anduze (8 km) and Uzès (35 km).

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Shop selling tools and materials for writing and calligraphy. Outdoor areas where you can picnic; drinks are sold at the museum.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit