Musée de la Typographie
About This Museum
Did you know the ampersand—that quirky '&' symbol—evolved from a ligature of the Latin word 'et'? That's just one of the delightful secrets you'll uncover at the Musée de la Typographie, a true love letter to the printed word tucked away in Tours. It feels less like a formal museum and more like stepping into a master printer's workshop, where the air still carries the faint scent of ink and old paper. You can get hands-on with history here, from setting metal type by hand to pulling your own print on a vintage press. It’s an intimate, wonderfully tactile experience that brings a nearly lost art back to life.
Collection Highlights
The heart of the collection is its working presses, including a beautiful old Heidelberg windmill. You'll find trays of ornate wood type, intricate printing blocks, and cases of lead type that tell the story of fonts we still use today.
Visitor Information
It's located at 15 Rue Albert Thomas, so it's easy to weave into a stroll through central Tours. Given its hands-on nature, it's best to check their opening hours in advance for a truly immersive visit.
Architecture & Building
Housed in an unassuming stone building on a classic French city street, its humble exterior gives way to a surprisingly warm and industrious interior filled with towering iron machinery.
Contact & Location
Address: 15, Rue Albert Thomas, Cathédrale, Tours, Indre-et-Loire, Centre-Val de Loire, France métropolitaine, 37000, France
Phone: +33 2 47 38 93 25
