Musée Matra

About the museum

The Espace automobiles Matra is a municipal museum in Romorantin-Lanthenay, housed in a former camera factory in the town centre. It has been open at its present site since May 2000 and tells the story of Matra's motor-car adventure, which kept the town busy for almost forty years.

The company Matra (Mécanique-Aviation-TRAction) was founded in 1945 and first worked in armaments. The history of its cars begins in 1964, when Matra took over the Romorantin-based company of René Bonnet. The town's factories then assembled the 530, the Bagheera, the Murena and the Rancho, and from 1984 the Espace, marketed by Renault. The commercial failure of the Avantime brought an end to Matra Automobiles in June 2003.

In parallel, the Matra Sports racing team, founded in 1964, won numerous victories in under ten years, including the Formula 1 world title in 1969, the World Endurance Championship title in 1973 and three consecutive wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans up to 1974.

The route, over more than 3,000 square metres, presents the racing cars and their V12 engines, the production models from the brand's entire industrial history and, in the basement, prototypes including the Espace F1, as well as an engine room. Video points, models and photographs accompany the visit. The museum also holds two temporary exhibitions a year.

Highlights

• Matra MS 80, Formula 1 world championship car of 1969
• Matra MS 670, three-time winner at the 24 Hours of Le Mans
• Production models: Djet, 530, Bagheera, Murena, Rancho, Espace and Avantime
• Prototypes in the basement, including the Espace F1
• Engine room with the sound of the V12

Permanent exhibitions

• L'aventure industrielle – The production cars built in Romorantin from 1964 to 2003: Djet, 530, Bagheera, Murena, Rancho, Espace and Avantime.
• Le palmarès sportif de Matra – The racing cars of Matra Sports, including the Formula 1 MS 80 and the MS 670 from the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with the sound of the V12 engine.
• Prototypes et salle des moteurs – In the basement, prototypes including the Espace F1 and a room devoted to engines.

Founded

2000

Operated by

Ville de Romorantin-Lanthenay

Admission & discounts

Free admission for job seekers (proof dated less than 3 months ago), pupils from Romorantin-Lanthenay on school visits with their accompanying adults, escorts of groups and specialised medical centres, group bus drivers and members of the museum's friends' association (amicale). Chèques-vacances and the Pass Culture are accepted.

Accessibility

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

The museum holds the Tourisme et Handicap label for motor, intellectual and hearing disabilities. The basement is reached by lift, and a wheelchair can be lent at reception if booked in advance. A disabled parking space is 60 metres from the museum, on the car park, and drop-off is possible in the museum courtyard. A sound amplifier can be lent against a deposit. The video points on the route have no subtitles. Guide dogs and assistance dogs are welcome; other animals are not allowed.

Kids & families

Getting there & parking

The museum is in the centre of Romorantin-Lanthenay, at 17 rue des Capucins. GPS coordinates: 47.35827, 1.740385. Visitors can stop in the museum courtyard to drop someone off.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

A shop is open in the museum; purchases can only be made on site.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit