Lainerie du Gévaudan
About This Museum
Tucked away in the rugged hills of Saugues, the Lainerie du Gévaudan is a testament to a local industry that once clothed the region. It feels less like a sterile museum and more like stepping directly into the past, where the hum of machinery and the scent of lanolin still seem to cling to the air. You can almost hear the echoes of the workers who transformed raw, greasy wool into fine fabric here for generations. It’s a deeply immersive experience that connects you to the tangible history of French rural life.
Collection Highlights
The heart of the place is its fully restored, monumental carding machine and spinning mules—hulking, beautiful beasts of polished wood and cast iron that look ready to spring to life. Alongside them, displays showcase everything from antique shears and weaving looms to delicate samples of the finished cloth, telling the complete story from fleece to fabric.
Visitor Information
It's one of those places best visited on a crisp afternoon, allowing you time to wander and absorb the quiet atmosphere. Check their seasonal opening times online before you go, as it's a small, family-run kind of operation.
Architecture & Building
Housed in the original stone mill building itself, with thick walls and large windows that once flooded the workspace with light.
Contact & Location
Address: 43170, La Fageolle, Grèzes, Brioude, Haute-Loire, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France métropolitaine, France
Phone: +33 4 71 74 26 80
