Musée des Commerces d'autrefois Travel Guide

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.