Musée de la mécanique d’art et du patrimoine de Sainte-Croix (MuMAPS)

About the museum

For generations, Sainte-Croix in the Vaud Jura was a centre of precision engineering, music boxes and phonographs. When Thorens and Paillard closed at the end of the 20th century, hundreds of people lost their jobs. A group of enthusiasts then founded the Centre international de la mécanique d'art (CIMA) in 1985 to preserve and revive local expertise; the term "mécanique d'art" was coined in the process. CIMA moved into the former factory building of Hermes Precisa International and showed thousands of objects in guided tours with demonstrations.

Two other institutions existed alongside it: the Musée des arts et des sciences, founded in 1872, and the Musée Baud in L'Auberson, which the Baud brothers had opened in 1955 for their collection of music boxes, automata and orchestrions. After negotiations on a merger, the Baud collection was acquired in 2019 through a fundraising campaign. The Musée des arts et des sciences closed in 2022, the Musée Baud at the end of 2023.

These three museums gave rise to MuMAPS, which opened in early June 2024. It uses the building erected by Paillard in 1900 on Rue de l'Industrie, where Hermes typewriters were built until 1970 and which housed CIMA from 1985 to 2002. It is run by a non-profit foundation.

Today the museum combines the permanent exhibition "Il était une fois Sainte-Croix" on local and industrial history with the tour "Mécanique d'art. La fabrique du rêve", which is accessible only with a guide. Music boxes, automata, orchestrions and gramophones are set in motion during the tour.

Highlights

• Guided tour "Mécanique d'art. La fabrique du rêve" with demonstrations of music boxes, automata and orchestrions
• Permanent exhibition "Il était une fois Sainte-Croix" as a walk-in visible storage
• Collection of the former Musée Baud with orchestrions and mechanical musical instruments
• Historic Paillard factory building (1900)
• Salle Baud for concerts and events

Permanent exhibitions

• Mécanique d’art. La fabrique du rêve – Five rooms on mechanical art with music boxes, automata, orchestrions and gramophones, which are demonstrated during the guided tour. Accessible only with a guide.
• Il était une fois Sainte-Croix – The local and industrial history of Sainte-Croix, largely staged as a walk-in visible storage.

Founded

2024

Operated by

Fondation du MuMAPS

Admission & discounts

The basic rate (CHF 12, reduced CHF 10, children CHF 6, family CHF 26) applies to self-guided visits of "Il était une fois Sainte-Croix" and the temporary exhibition without demonstrations. Free or reduced with the Swiss Museum Pass, Raiffeisen, Caritas Culture Card, Pèdze Pass, BCV Extra, for members of ADAM, ICOM or AMS, and with admission vouchers.

Accessibility

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

The entire museum is accessible to people with reduced mobility; a lift reaches all floors, accessible toilets on the ground floor. Dogs are permitted only as assistance dogs.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

The guided tour with demonstrations is recommended for young audiences; groups receive visits adapted to their age. Events regularly include children's activities (e.g. Halloween on 31 October 2026). Family ticket and family toilets available.

Getting there & parking

Less than 10 minutes on foot from the SBB railway station, less than 5 minutes from the centre. Groups and people with reduced mobility can be dropped off in front of the former Musée des arts et des sciences (Avenue des Alpes 10).

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant: not available
• Museum shop

Cafeteria with 20 seats in the entrance area (vending machine for drinks and snacks); bookshop-boutique with regional products, accessible without an admission ticket; tourist information (Point I)

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Up to 80 guests.

Salle Baud among the orchestrions: up to 80 people for a conference or concert, 24 for a meeting, 20 for a seminar; rental from CHF 400 per half day. Can be combined with a private guided tour.

Plan your visit