Musée de la Chapellerie

Over het museum

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, hat-making brought prosperity to Espéraza, in the upper Aude valley. Production grew mainly from 1830, and then with the arrival of the railway in 1878. Around 1929, the trade employed nearly 3,000 workers in the local factories, and the town became one of the very first world centres of wool felt hats.

Fashion, which gradually abandoned the hat, then led to a continuous decline: only one small factory remains, in the neighbouring commune of Montazels. To preserve the memory of this expertise, the association “Les Amis du Musée de la Chapellerie” founded the museum in 1992.

The route brings together the machines and equipment of production, from the felt cone to the finished hat, in two spaces designed as workshops. Photographs, books and hat models complement the visit, which relies on multilingual leaflets and a film showing the stages of manufacture.

Hoogtepunten

• The machines and equipment of the entire felt-hat production chain, from the felt cone to the finished hat
• A film on the stages of making a hat
• Two workshop-style rooms: fulling and finishing
• Photographs, books and models of headwear
• A shop with hats of various shapes and materials

Opgericht

1992

Beheerder

Association « Les Amis du Musée de la Chapellerie »

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

Gratis toegang: Free admission during school holidays.

Payment by bank card, check or cash.

Toegankelijkheid

Het museum heeft hierover geen informatie gepubliceerd.

Kinderen & gezin

Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen

• Gezinsrondleidingen & workshops
• Speeltuin / speelhoek

Playful and educational workshops for schools and leisure centres, plus a play area listed by the tourist office.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

Espéraza lies 45 km south of Carcassonne. Bus or TER connection between Carcassonne and Quillan.

Service & horeca

• Museumwinkel

Hat shop.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

Het museum heeft hierover geen informatie gepubliceerd.

Je bezoek plannen