Step Back in Time at the Musée des Commerces d'Autrefois

The Musée des Commerces d'Autrefois (Museum of the Shops of Yesteryear) in Rochefort is a unique and enchanting museum that transports visitors back to the early 1900s. Born from the passion of Christine and Jean-François, a couple who dedicated their free time to collecting thousands of objects related to commerce and craftsmanship, the museum offers an immersive experience into the world of old French shops. Housed in a former hardware warehouse dating back to the early 20th century, the museum recreates about twenty different shops, each filled with authentic objects and advertising materials. Visitors can explore a bicycle repair shop, a gas station with its vintage glass pump, a bistro from the time when absinthe was the star drink, a hat shop with custom-made felt hats, and a pharmacy with numerous cabinets. The journey continues with a grocery store where you can rediscover iconic brands, a coffee shop filled with spices imported from the colonies, a seed shop, a barber shop, a photographer's studio, a shoemaker's workshop, and a bazaar. The museum also features a classroom with desks, inkwells and a blackboard, offering visitors the chance to test their skills with a dictation. With its rich collection of advertising objects, the Musée des Commerces d'Autrefois provides a fascinating insight into the daily life and commercial practices of a bygone era.