Musée européen d'art campanaire

About the museum

The Musée européen d'art campanaire is located on the Place de l'Hôtel-de-Ville in L'Isle-Jourdain, in the Gers, in the heart of a bastide about thirty minutes from Toulouse. It occupies the town's former grain hall, built in 1819. The word “campanaire” comes from the Latin campana, bell: bell art covers the making of bells, their history and the traditions associated with them.

The museum opened on December 16, 1994 under the high patronage of the President of the Republic. It is placed under the scientific supervision of the Direction des musées de France. Its key object is the Bastille carillon, a listed historic monument: in 1989 the State bought, at an auction at the Hôtel Drouot, the monumental clock that had been saved after July 14, 1789.

On two levels, six permanent spaces present some 1,000 objects from five continents covering four millennia. They address bell-founding, the Revolution and wars, monumental clockmaking, the bell in music and messages, the bell as a mark of identity, and livestock bells. An auditorium plays chimes from across Europe, and the museum hosts carillon concerts and themed exhibitions.

Highlights

• Bastille carillon, historic monument
• Some 1,000 objects from five continents and four millennia
• Foundry workshop with tools, moulds and a film of casting
• Working monumental clocks, including one with jacquemarts (automaton figures)
• Sonnailles and subrejougs (harness bells) from the Southwest
• Auditorium of chimes and carillon concerts

Permanent exhibition

• Collections campanaires permanentes – Six spaces on bell-founding, monumental clockmaking, the bell in music, the identity of peoples and livestock bells, around the Bastille carillon.

Founded

1994

Operated by

Ville de L'Isle-Jourdain

Visitors per year

approx. 14,675

Admission & discounts

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 announces access for people with reduced mobility, and visits adapted for visually and hearing-impaired visitors.

Kids & families

The museum offers discovery programs for school groups; the regional tourist office lists it among family visits.

Getting there & parking

The museum is on the Place de l'Hôtel-de-Ville, about thirty minutes from Toulouse.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Souvenir shop.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit