LE GRAND ATELIER, MUSEUM OF ART AND INDUSTRY

The museum is housed in one of the large workshops of the former Manufacture d'armes. In fact, this beautiful Eiffel-style building houses three exciting and diverse exhibits. Covering more than 3,000 m², the Auto-moto-vélo museum showcases an industrial heritage that is exceptional in France. Automobiles, as well as numerous bicycles, illustrate the technical, historical and societal evolution of vehicles over two centuries. An exceptional exhibition on local child and international cyclist Sylvain Chavanel, "Itinéraire d'un champion", is also on display. His jerseys, trophies, photos and bicycles are on display.

The second area presents the history of the arms factory, which closed in 1968. Here you'll discover the weapons manufactured, the tools used and the social history of a place that left its mark on life in Châtellerault.

Finally, you'll discover the Cabaret du Chat Noir. Did you know that Rodolphe Salis, its founder (in 1881), was a local boy, and that the museum has the largest collection of zinc from the cabaret? It's in a hushed atmosphere that you can discover these silhouettes and even manipulate a castelet to recreate skits featuring shadow puppets and characters cut from zinc plates.

For families, the museum has created an immersive, fun-filled "Back to the Past" tour (booking required) that plunges young and old alike into these three worlds, with discoveries, games and riddles.