In Saint-Pierre d'Oléron, the Museum of Oleron Island tells the story of the island from the first settlements to the present day. A great introduction for anyone who wants to discover the many facets ofOleron. A must-see, and not only when it rains !
Dive into the memory of Oléron
Housed in a large 18th-century building, the Museum of Oleron Island offers a rich and vibrant panorama of Oléron's heritage. The island's history, popular arts and traditions, and traditional island activities (salt farming, viticulture, tapping, oyster farming, fishing, etc.) are highlighted in an original way, using visual projections, sound effects, and tactile explorations.
Lovers of “old stones” will find something to satisfy their curiosity. The Museum presents an interesting collection of objects from excavations carried out on Oleron Island. There we discovered a 5000 year old polisher used for making finery in the Neolithic period, Gallo-Roman funerary ceramics found on the site of Mirouelles in Saint-Pierre; a bronze cannon with the coat of arms of the Habsburgs of Spain; the Bell of the French brig L'Audacieux (78 tons) which sank on February 9, 1889 in Oleron Island, and many other local history treasures.
The museum also looks back at the important events and famous people who have marked the history of the island: Eleanor of Aquitaine, the wars of religion, the defense of the island over the centuries... The history ofOleron will no longer hold any mysteries for you!
Oléron in times gone by
The museum's permanent collections feature traditional costumes, including a stunning collection of headdresses. Until the early 20th century, the headdress was an essential element of traditional women's costume. Oleron Island.
Part of the museum is dedicated to traditional housing, called "thieuzine" in local dialect. This large living space served as a kitchen, dining room, and bedroom. Here, everyday objects and kitchen utensils are on display; there, a hat box, glass plate photographs, and a late 19th-century three-wheeled stroller, each telling its own story.
The museum also pays homage to popular arts and traditions. Starting with viticulture, symbolized by an imposing press dating from 1732. Further on, we discover the old tools once used by salt workers to extract salt from the salt marshes, those of the tapper who collected the sap from the pine trees in the Saumonards forest. The museum also presents the various activities related to fishing on Oleron Island, from oyster farming to shore fishing, including fish locks, these stone fisheries which have existed since the Middle Ages.
Visiting the museum with children
To pique the interest of young visitors, the museum includes an educational trail organized around fun activities: headdresses to try on, hidden objects, shell drawers, etc. And during school holidays, the museum offers workshops combining discovery of the collections and artistic practice (for children aged 4 to 12).
How about a museum aperitif?
In summer, the museum offers "museum aperitif" evenings with guided tours of the permanent collections and temporary exhibitions, and tastings of local sweet and savory products. A unique concept that brings everyone back to museums!
The new upcoming exhibition
Each season, the museum of Oleron Island offers a temporary exhibition that highlights a particular theme. In 2020, the museum is dusting off its textile collections! An opportunity to discover Oléron's clothing styles during the Belle Époque: everyday and ceremonial outfits, 1900s-style sea bathing costumes, and more intimate wardrobes. Do our clothes today tell us as much as those of the past?
Practical
- Oléron Island Museum: 9 place Gambetta, 17310 Saint-Pierre d'Oléron
- Open all year round (guided tours from February to December)
- Site : www.musee-ile-oleron.fr
photo © The Oléron Island Museum