House Berges - White Coal Museum
About This Museum
Tucked away in the village of Villard-Bonnot, just outside Grenoble, the House Bergès – or White Coal Museum – is a surprising and delightful find. This isn't your typical stuffy museum; it's the actual home and workshop of Aristide Bergès, a pioneer of hydroelectric power. You get a real sense of the man's life and genius as you wander through rooms filled with his personal artifacts and groundbreaking machinery. It’s a fascinating look at how the force of Alpine water, dubbed 'white coal,' electrified this corner of France.
Collection Highlights
The star attraction is Bergès's massive original turbine, an impressive piece of 19th-century engineering. Alongside it, you'll find his beautiful Art Nouveau drawings and personal family photographs that paint a vivid picture of his life.
Visitor Information
It's easy to find at 40 Avenue des Papeteries in Villard-Bonnot. Check their website for current opening times as they can vary by season.
Architecture & Building
The building itself is a charming mix, blending the traditional stone structure of an old paper mill with ornate Art Nouveau details added by the Bergès family.
Contact & Location
Address: Avenue des Papeteries, La Dubois, Lancey, Villard-Bonnot, Grenoble, Isère, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France métropolitaine, 38190, France
Phone: +33 4 38 92 19 60
Website: Visit Website
