Musée Rabelais, Maison La Devinière

About the museum

La Devinière is a former farmstead in Seuilly, a few kilometers from Chinon. The birth of François Rabelais is placed here, with a date given variously as around 1483 or around 1494. The estate belonged to his father, Antoine Rabelais, and remained in the family until the middle of the 17th century. Several owners followed, and the estate was gradually divided up from 1840 onward.

The site has been listed as a historic monument since 1930. In 1948 the association of Friends of Rabelais and La Devinière was founded, and the Indre-et-Loire Department bought the property. After the manor house and the pigeon-loft barn were restored, the museum opened to the public in 1951. In the 1980s and 1990s, the Department acquired and renovated the neighboring buildings. The museum received the “Musée de France” designation in 2002 and the “Maisons des Illustres” label in 2011.

The route passes through several buildings around a courtyard: the 15th-century manor house (logis de maître), built of tuffeau stone, with the great hall and the bedroom; the 17th-century pigeon-loft barn, which presents rare editions, prints and portraits of the writer; the farmer's house, devoted to his life and travels, with a large digital table; and the winegrower's house and the cellars dug into the tuffeau, which host exhibitions.

The estate also includes a garden, an orchard and vineyards. The wine of the Clos de la Devinière, under the Chinon appellation since 2016, is sold only at the museum shop.

Highlights

• 15th-century manor house where Rabelais is said to have been born
• 17th-century pigeon-loft barn with rare editions, prints and portraits
• Troglodyte cellars dug into tuffeau stone
• Gardens, orchard and vineyards of the Clos de la Devinière
• “Géographies” digital table on Rabelais and Gargantua

Permanent exhibitions

• Le logis de Rabelais – 15th-century manor house built of tuffeau stone, with the great hall and Rabelais's bedroom.
• Le pigeonnier-grange – Rare editions, prints and portraits presenting the writer, physician and churchman, and his work.
• La maison du métayer – Presentation of Rabelais's life and travels, with the “Géographies” digital table.

Founded

1951

Operated by

Département d'Indre-et-Loire

Admission & discounts

Free admission for recipients of social minimum benefits, job seekers, holders of the press card, ICOM card or Ministry of Culture card, tour guides, and Indre-et-Loire collèges on school trips. A full-price ticket less than two months old from several partner sites in Touraine entitles the holder to the reduced rate. Payment by cash, check, credit card (from €1), paper Chèques-Vacances and exchange vouchers (bons d'échange). The gardens are also paid.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• 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 reception and ticket office, the toilets and the farmer's house are at ground level. The other spaces are not wheelchair accessible: the outdoor path is gravel, and there are steps, uneven stairs and low doorways. Two parking spaces are reserved. Seat canes are available at the reception, along with a magnetic loop, large-print visit documents and a tablet for a free virtual visit.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

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

The museum has signed the Môm'Art charter of joyful museums. A free booklet-game “Gargantua, la vie en géant” is available at reception, along with large wooden games in the museum and the gardens. During school holidays, creative workshops and storytelling sessions are offered. Strollers are allowed outside and inside, except on the second floor of the main building.

Getting there & parking

The museum is a 7-minute drive from Chinon, 50 minutes from Tours via the A85 (exit 9 Chinon, then D751) and 1 hour 15 minutes from Poitiers via the A10 (exit 25). It is 4.7 km from the Loire à Vélo cycle route and holds the Accueil Vélo label. The Sitradem on-demand shuttle runs Monday to Saturday, but wheelchairs are not accepted.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop
• Coat check

Bookshop with books about Rabelais, children's games and estate products; coffee or tea can be enjoyed there. Free luggage room next to the reception. Deckchairs and garden furniture in the gardens and vineyards; picnics are allowed in July and August. Leashed dogs are welcome in the park.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit