An unusual and timeless visit: the Rochefort Museum of Old Trades

With its Royal Ropeworks and its National Maritime Museum, exploring the maritime town of Rochefort is above all immersing yourself in the glorious epic of the navy and the military Arsenal. However, a particularly surprising visit plunges us into the heart of the 1900s: the unusual world of the Museum of Trades of Yesteryear offers a journey through time, not to be missed for anything in the world!

A fascinating journey through twenty shops and workshops of old trades

Strolling through the charming streets of Rochefort, towards Place Colbert, I pushed open the door of a curious building, in the middle of Rue Lesson, which caught my eye. And what a surprise!

Dating back to 1900, this former warehouse, spanning nearly 1,000 m² and spread over 3 floors, is home to treasures from another era! Like a time machine, I discover the superb Museum of Old-Fashioned Trades and am embarked on a 3-hour tour of this unusual, touching, and decidedly cultural space, which carries within it all the nostalgia of the past. A condensed history for young and old alike!

General view of the museum

I begin my visit to this mysterious place in the basement where an exhibition is dedicated to Cognac, a precious, typically Charente wine brandy, with a distillery equipped with a traditional still. As I continue, the universe changes radically. I find myself back on the benches of the school at the beginning of the century for a nostalgic dive into the childhood of our great-grandparents, for the privileged.

Public school in the 20th century

The setting and atmosphere of the public school of yesteryear is perfectly recreated. Dominated by the teacher's desk and a poster with the rules of school life, which is surprising to say the least, the classroom is equipped with wooden desks with their inkwells, where young and old can learn to write with a quill. An enriching experience for children who can appreciate the luxury they enjoy today, in terms of comfort and ease of writing with ballpoint pens!

Test the pen and inkwell

On the ground floor, a bicycle repair shop and an old gas station with its glass jar pump are on display, followed by a bistro where time seems to have stood still. Advertising posters, period furniture, and absinthe bottles: you can easily imagine the warm atmosphere that reigned there! Next comes a magnificent hat shop with elegant felt hats, a pharmacy with shelves full of medicines and jars with clever names, and finally, the dye house with its copper pots for dyeing linen.

On the first floor, I enter a completely different vintage universe. The grain store sells all kinds of grains and seeds, and the grocery store offers a wide selection of familiar brands: Leroux chicory, Banania, Bouillon Kub. Packaging has evolved considerably. Back then, there was no plastic, but beautiful metal tins. The smell of roasted coffee and exotic spices from Cafés Freddy and the scent of cologne from the hair salon stimulate my senses and imagination.

On the 2nd floor, the photographer's studio and a range of equipment await me. In the age of digital photography and smartphones, this talented profession has definitely lost its old-world charm. I continue my visit with the shoemaker's workshop and the farrier's forge. In the past, it was common for horses to lose their shoes. This profession was an integral part of the locals' lives, a bit like changing a car tire today. The realism of these workshops is impressive. Passionate about history, I scrutinize the smallest details so as not to miss any of the spectacle.

The richest private collection of promotional items in France!

Opened in 1990, the private collection of the Musée des Commerces d'Autrefois is the work of Jean-François Bourbigot, an outstanding collector. This former accountant spent most of his free time hunting for and collecting old objects out of passion. With great pride, his son Sébastien now manages the museum and perpetuates the family tradition by enriching this unique heritage to share with the public. This breathtaking museum can be visited all year round, whether alone, with family or friends, with an annual closure in January.

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Article written by Lesley Williamson for the Charente Maritime Guide