Musée Labenche
History, archaeology and art museum in Brive-la-Gaillarde, housed in a Renaissance mansion, with tapestries and prehistory.
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About the museum
The museum was founded in 1878 by the Société scientifique, historique et archéologique de la Corrèze, like many institutions created in the 19th century by learned societies. Multidisciplinary from the outset, it brought together objects from excavations, natural history specimens, coins, paintings and sculptures. In 1883 the society transferred its collections to the town of Brive, and the museum became municipal; it took the name Ernest Rupin in 1909.
By the late 1970s the premises were too small. The museum was then moved to the Hôtel Labenche, a Renaissance mansion that was restored and refitted during the 1980s. It reopened in summer 1989 as the Musée Labenche, with a route devoted to the history of Brive and its region from its origins to the mid-20th century. It has borne the “Musée de France” label since 15 August 2002.
Fifteen rooms and around 5,500 objects present prehistory and archaeology, including the Bouyssonie cave, the Gallo-Roman period, the Mortlake and Aubusson tapestries, fine arts, popular arts and traditions, natural sciences and numismatics. The Chapelle Saint-Libéral hosts free temporary exhibitions.
Highlights
- Renaissance mansion, historic monument
- Set of thirteen tapestries, including those from Mortlake
- Prehistory collections and the Bouyssonie cave
- Piano once owned by Claude Debussy
- Popular arts and traditions, natural sciences, numismatics
Permanent exhibitions
- Collections permanentes – Fifteen rooms and around 5,500 objects on the history of Brive and its region, from prehistory to the mid-20th century.
- Les tapisseries – Set of thirteen tapestries from the Mortlake and Aubusson workshops, among the museum's key pieces.
- Founded
- 1878
- Operated by
- Ville de Brive-la-Gaillarde
- Director
- Vincent Rigau-Jourjon
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €5.50 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €3.50Reduced rate and group rate (from 10 people) |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Free for children under 18. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freeFree for holders of a disability card. |
| Students & apprentices | freeFree for students (individual visits). |
| Groups (10+ people) | €3.50 per personGroups from 10 people. |
| Guided tour for adult groups (supplement per person, from 10 people, by reservation) | €3Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes |
Free admission: First Sunday of the month
The ticket gives access to the permanent collections and the temporary exhibitions. Free admission also for job seekers, recipients of minimum social benefits, ICOM card holders, the press and active teachers (individual visits).
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 17 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
- Stroller-friendly
Activities for young audiences during the holidays; the public service welcomes families, leisure centres and schools.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
- Museum shop
- Wi-Fi
The Brive tourist office lists a shop and Wi-Fi among the museum's facilities.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 1.5 hrs |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Guided tours for adults are available only for groups of at least 10 people, by reservation; a personalised route can be requested. The education service offers workshop visits for schools; school groups from Brive enter free. |
