Musée des Traditions et des Barques du Léman

About the museum

The museum is housed in the castle of Saint-Gingolph-Suisse, in the middle of the historic village of this French-Swiss border town. The building of 1588 has belonged to the Burgher Community since 1837, was renovated in 1962 and again from 2015 to 2018, and houses administrative offices as well as the billiard room, where weddings are now held. On 8 October 1982 the "Association of the Friends of the Museum of Old Saint-Gingolph" was founded, which about fifteen years later laid the foundations of today's museum in the castle.

Thematically, the museum centres on the Barques du Léman, the cargo sailing vessels with large lateen sails, and on the smaller Cochères. In the 18th and 19th centuries Saint-Gingolph had one of the most important shipyards on the lake; the sailing ships transported food, firewood, lime and stones. The first room holds 33 models with information sheets, a second room is devoted to steamships, and a third shows tools, the caulking of hulls, and the life of boatmen and fishermen. A diaporama tells the history of navigation on Lake Geneva (the Léman) from the 15th to the 20th century.

The museum also sheds light on village life: the border relations between the two halves of the village, the two world wars, the chestnut harvest (the village once had one of the largest chestnut groves in Europe) and the use of wood. An exhibition commemorates the "Perle du lac", artificial pearls made from fish scales, which were invented in the 1920s and later revived.

Highlights

• 33 models of the Barques du Léman with information sheets
• Room with around 15 steamship models, including the "Major Davel"
• Diaporama on the history of navigation on Lake Geneva, also in a children's version
• Exhibition on the "Perle du lac" with a film about pearl production
• Castle of 1588 with a billiard room in the historic village centre

Permanent exhibition

• Dauerausstellung zu den Barques du Léman und zum Leben am See – Three rooms show models of the cargo sailing barges and steamships, boatbuilding tools, and everyday life and crafts of the border village. A separate display is devoted to pearls made from fish scales.

Operated by

Association des Amis du Musée

Admission & discounts

Prices are in CHF or euros. Free admission for members of the Association of the Friends of the Museum, with the Museum Pass, and with a valid transport ticket of the day.

Accessibility

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Kids & families

• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide

The diaporama is available in a version for children; accompanied children up to 16 years have free admission.

Getting there & parking

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Amenities & dining

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Events & venue rental

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