1. Labenche Museum
The Musée Labenche is a certified Musée de France. Its permanent collection traces the art and history of Brive-la-Gaillarde and the surrounding area, with collections dating back to prehistoric times.
The building itself is a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture. Built in the mid-16th century by a nobleman close to the King, the building was classified as a historical monument in 1886, and came under the ownership of the town of Brive in the early 20th century.
The Musée Labenche comprises 15 exhibition rooms and boasts collections that are unique in France, including tapestries from the 17th-century English Royal Manufactory, a piano by composer Claude Debussy, and rich prehistoric relics.
With 11 major collections and over 5,000 objects, the museum showcases the rich history and heritage of Brive and the surrounding area through a variety of themes: archaeology, crafts, popular traditions...
2. The Edmond Michelet Museum
Also known as the Musée de la Résistance et de la Déportation (Museum of Resistance and Deportation), this establishment is entirely dedicated to the Second World War and the events that took place in France and Corrèze.
The museum is housed in the family home of Edmond Charles Octave Michelet. This early Resistance fighter, arrested by the German police in 1943 and deported to Dachau, became Minister of the Armed Forces in the de Gaulle government after the Liberation.
Permanent and temporary exhibitions are open to the general public and schoolchildren. The museum's collections are made up of donated objects from former members of the Resistance and deportees, as well as acquired graphic and printed documents.
In 9 exhibition rooms, original documents (leaflets, photographs, supply cards, etc.), objects and works of art cover the various aspects of the Second World War, including resistance and deportation, the Vichy regime and its propaganda, and daily life under the Occupation until the Liberation.
3. The Walnut Museum in Saillac
Just 30 minutes from Brive-la-Gaillarde, discover Les Quatre Demoiselles, the museum where you can eat and drink. The Musée de la Noix in Saillac, Corrèze, offers a unique museum experience.
In the museum's vaulted hall, visitors attend a meeting of members of CIAN (Cercle International des Amis de la Noix), who present the history of this special nut through sound and image.
Discover the importance of walnut growing in local life, its medicinal uses and culinary characteristics...
The Musée des Quatre Demoiselles also has a restaurant and a store where you'll find local, handcrafted walnut products. The small village of Saillac is also crossed by the Route de la Noix.
4. The Bovetti Chocolate Museum
Just 20 minutes from Brive-la-Gaillarde, the Musée du Chocolat Bovetti combines history and gourmet delights in a single visit. Created by artisan chocolatier Valter BOVETTI with a view to sharing his passion, the Musée du Chocolat Bovetti takes you on a journey through the history of cocoa, from its discovery to the making of chocolate. The journey takes you to Santo Domingo, Madagascar... You can watch the artisanal production of chocolate bars and spreads.
After exploring the secrets of chocolate making, it's time to get hands-on. Become a chocolatier for the duration of a workshop and make a chocolate mold to take home with you. Finally, it's time for a tasting session with tasty chocolate bites.
Times vary during and outside school vacations. It is advisable to book booking in advance to secure a dedicated slot. The Bovetti Museum is adjacent to the chocolate factory's artisan workshop. You can also visit the boutique to take home your favorite chocolate. If you're flying again, be careful about quantities and where you pack these items in your suitcase.
5. Musée des Pans de Travassac
Just 10 minutes from Brive, in the commune of Donzenac, lies a site unique in Europe. Les Pans de Travassac is a site of steep cliffs that brings to life the ancestral work of slate quarrymen. An opportunity to discover the work of stone during a sensational walk along the slate walls.
This former quarry and its 30-metre-high cliff faces were used to make tiles for local roofs, as well as for famous monuments such as Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey.
At the heart of the gallery is the Musée des Pans de Travassac, which showcases the history and work of the slate quarrymen.
The site is closed during the winter season and opens its doors from April to early November, on booking for groups of 20 or more, and on Sunday afternoons in May, June, September and October. In July and August, the Pans de Travassac are open every day, morning and afternoon.
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Photo: Gilles Guillamot