An open-air museum
Houses of the Franche-Comté region
Bicycle rentals nearby
First and foremost, an eco-museum
Just outside Besançon, in Nancray, this museum-park takes you on a journey through the entire Franche-Comté region across 15 hectares and 35 buildings (houses, farms, workshops, a communal oven, a chapel, and more).
But take note: here, we haven’t simply recreated the past in a modern style! Not at all…
Every house, every farm, every garden shed, and every chapel has been rebuilt exactly as it was, stone by stone, using the original materials! From the foothills of the Vosges to the peaks of the Jura, all the regions of Franche-Comté are represented here through houses fully furnished from basement to attic, thanks to collections painstakingly gathered since the museum’s inception.
A Place of Remembrance
This open-air museum is above all a place where 17th- to 19th-century architecture reflects the evolution of society and its future, taking into account societal challenges and the necessary adaptations to new issues caused by global warming.
Check out their website:
https://www.maisons-comtoises.org/
A Place for Exhibitions and Experimentation
Throughout the year, cultural exhibitions are held in the many houses and/or outdoor spaces, and numerous artists find opportunities here to showcase their work!
The museum is also a place for experimentation around themes of sustainable development, raw material management, and the transmission of traditional techniques (dry stone walls, lime plaster, cladding and woodworking, etc.), as well as introductory workshops offered to both the general public and experienced practitioners (blacksmithing, basket weaving, naturalist drawing, cosmetics, cooking, painting, etc.)
A Living Space
There’s always something happening at this open-air museum!
Here, farm animals (sheep, goats, donkeys, cows, poultry, etc.) roam or graze peacefully; there, visitors are drawn to gardens where vineyards, orchards, vegetable patches, and herb gardens coexist. A venue for numerous activities, cooking workshops, exploration of traditional crafts, themed shows (astronomy, beekeeping, storytelling), and national events (Rendez-vous au Jardin, European Heritage Days, festivals, and concert-receptions, etc.), this space is also a place for strolling and discovery; it fosters interaction and sharing in a lush, rural setting.