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Housed in the 11th-century Boissezon fort, this outstanding collection of authentic objects and documents concerned with the history of armed conflict in the 20th century is an educational and remembrance resource. Its eight exhibition rooms display weaponry, equipment, photographs, documents and literature from the First and Second World Wars, as well as more recent conflicts like Korea, Indochina and Algeria. Armed, uniformed mannequins of our brave soldiers add a remarkable layer of realism. These conflicts left scars which should help prevent new wars and serve as a reminder for future generations.

Created by the now deceased Dr Christian Bourdel, the museum is regularly enhanced through donations and new acquisitions. The museum’s considerable reserve collection means it is able to put on regular temporary exhibitions, as well as lending items to other organisations for events.

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Families, friends, school parties and work groups are all welcome to visit this unique museum in the Occitanie region.

Sources : ©Musée Mémorial pour la Paix – Le Militarial - Boissezon

The Haut-Languedoc historical Museum of Protestantism at Ferrières in the Tarn département offers a historical journey from the 16th century to the present day with strong emphasis on local aspects. Each year it deals with a specific theme through exhibitions or conferences and works closely with Toulouse University. Haut-Languedoc was deeply affected by the Reformation in the 16th century and by long resistance that is still preserved in oral memories. These are also marked by the persecution suffered by Protestants in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Classified as a Museum of France under the Law n°2002-5 passed on 4 January 2002, the Haut-Languedoc Museum of Protestantism is managed by a charitable association connected to the French Protestant History Society. It offers the chance to find out about this subject through the Edict of Nantes, the torment endured through the Revolution, the Resistance - in particular the part played by this theologically-active region - to the creation of the good works and societies that marked French Protestantism in the 19th and 20th centuries, and more recently its role as a host during the Second World War. For almost 40 years (it was founded in 1967), the Haut-Languedoc Museum of Protestantism at Ferrières is a place for the conservation and display of objects and works (mostly donated) connected with the history of Protestantism in the Haut-Languedoc region. The Museum, located in the Maison du Luthier, offers visitors a permanent exhibition, presenting the rich, varied and troubled story from the 16th century to the present day, and a temporary exhibition with a different theme each year, linked to current affairs or society that encourages thought and debate (expo 2004: "Religion and religious violence from the 16th century to the present day").
The permanent exhibition covers five rooms and displays objects, works, engravings and paintings. The first room, which is dominated by an impressive wooden throne from the Revel Temple, is dedicated to the 16th century Reformation; it features portraits of the Reformers and an important collection of Bibles (from every era), including the oldest one in the museum's possession that dates from 1564, printed in Lyon by Jean de Tournes. Before moving on to the mezzanine, visitors find out about the 16th and 17th centuries and in particular the history of Saint-Bartholomew, the religious wars, Henri IV and the Edict of Nantes, as well as the development of spiritual and intellectual life through the emergence of the Protestant Academies.
The room dedicated to the Wilderness offers visitors the chance to admire some of the museum's finest pieces: a collapsible throne, religious articles from the Wilderness, méreaux, a model of a galley, and engravings depicting the Calas and Sirven affairs. The museum then covers the Restoration and expansion of Protestantism in the 19th century with the reconstruction of places of worship and buildings, social and educational activities, as well as the missionary side to Protestantism (presentation of a projection lantern and glass photographic plates), without forgetting the industrial adventure experienced in the Mazamet-Castres area.
The visit ends with a display of a regional and national portrait of Protestantism, showing the vitality of the Reformed Church, and especially the role of Protestants, in particular from La Montagne, in the Resistance and protection of Jews. The Museum Association also manages a library, with over 14,000 works (Bibles, Psalters, theological works, etc) and archive documents among the most significant in France on this topic and containing some very old works. Not forgetting the genealogy section, which has so far listed some 40,000 birth, marriage and death certificates. Elsewhere, the summer season is marked by a variety of events. For the last two years the Association has organised the "Estivales de Ferrières" festival, providing events around the museum's themes: A cycle of conferences linked to the temporary exhibition. Themed walks around Ferrières in the Montagnol Forest. In June 2004, a concert. The theme of the 2005 temporary exhibition "Secularism in France". Featuring 10 panels, it was made by the services of the Chairmanship of the National Assembly and Historian Valentine Zuber You will also find registers and documents issued by the Montagne parish laying down their position on the proposed Act separating Church and State.
Musée du Protestantisme en Haut-Languedoc(Haut-Languedoc Museum of Protestantism) Maison du Luthier 81260 Ferrières (Tarn) Reception: +33 (0)5.63.74.05.49 Office: +33 (0)5.63.73.45.01 E-mail: secretariat@mpehl.org Opening times From July to 18 September: Tuesday and Sunday 2-6pm, other days 10am-12pm and 3-7pm. Easter to All-Saints' Day: 2-6pm Sunday and public holidays. Other periods: on request Prices Entrance: €3 for adults, €1 for children, €2 for students and groups

The Arthur Batut museum located in Labruguière in the Tarn département pays tribute to the work of one of the pioneers of aerial photography, the first photographer after Nadar to have taken pictures of his region. Aerial photography or kite aerophotography has existed for over a century. We owe the first aerial view to Félix Tournachon, known as Nadar (1820-1910). This first image was taken from a height of 520 metres from a hydrogen balloon in 1858. Born in 1846 Arthur Batut spent most of his life in Labruguière at his property called "En Laure". His taste for research gave him an interest in archaeological history. But it was photography that finally harnessed his energy. He undertook research into autochromes, stereoscopy and photography from kites. Arthur Batut built his own kite. It was a flat diamond-shape 2.50 metres by 1.75. The frame was wood, covered in paper and reinforced at the corners with tough cloth. This kite had a stabilising tail made of paper. It was equipped with a camera made from cardboard and cork. In the spring of 1888, in the Tarn département, it was this device that Arthur Batut (1846-1918) took the first aerial photo (in 8x8cm format) by kite.

This observation and intelligence went on to be used in the First World War as a valuable complement to the work of aviators. These days, although aerial photography by aeroplane or helicopter and remote sensing by satellite are commonplace, the technique using kites or balloons is still used in specific applications for taking low-altitude aerial images: the environment, architecture, archaeology, town planning, etc. The Arthur Batut Museum at Labruguière, between Castres and Mazamet, was founded by Serge Nègre in 1988 to display the works of this pioneer. Opened on the centenary of the invention of kite aerophotography, the museum displays the collections donated by the inventor's family for public exhibition. The collection includes photographic equipment, glass plates and original prints. Examples of kites are displayed in the main room. There are also further examples of Batut's ingenuity such as the tinder wick used as a shutter release.
Batut's correspondence with his peers and detractors completes the portrait of the inventor. New life is brought to the museum with an exhibition gallery that regularly displays the work of contemporary creators of historic images or reports.
Musée Arthur Batut(Arthur Batut Museum) Kite photography 9 ter, rue Gambetta 81290 Labruguière Tel: +33 (0)5 63 50 22 18/05 63 70 34 01 Open 3-6pm, closed on Tuesday Local Tourist Office(Office municipal du tourisme) Place de l'Hôtel de Ville 81290 Labruguière Tel/fax: +33 (0)5.63.50.17.21 E-mail: ot-labruguiere@wanadoo.fr

The Vabre Resistance Museum in the Tarn bears witness, through the exhibition of authentic documents, to the existence and organisation of a fighting Resistance unit during the Second World War. Vabre, a small mountain town in the Tarn department's northern end, is at the centre of a hollow relief following the narrow gorge formed by rivers in the Castres highlands. The Resistance and the Maquis were in their element there. The Vabre Resistance Museum displays weapons, objects, photographs and testimonials showing the daily life of the maquis, which was made up of Jews and former members of the French Protestant boy scout movement. Its leading figures were Pol-Roux (Guy de Rouville) and Robert Gamzon.

The museum's main themes include weapons, correspondence, intelligence, daily life (food supplies, accounting and weddings), propaganda, sabotage and the maquis' members (Pasteur Cadier, Marcel Guy, Marcel Doret, etc.).
Amicale des Maquis de Vabre Maison de la montagne 81330 Vabre Phone: +33 (0)5.63.50.40.50 Fax: +33 (0)5.63.50.41.33 Tourist Office Rue Vieille 81330 Vabre Phone: +33 (0)5.63.50.48.75 E-Mail: sivabre@voila.fr Opening times The museum is open four days a week by appointment in July and August

The city of Castres has dedicated a museum to Jean Jaurès, a native son born in 1859, a champion of socialism and an exceptional orator, a committed pacifist assassinated by Raoul Villain on 31 July 1914 on the eve of World War I.

The Jean Jaurès National Centre and Museum is located in the centre of the city of Castres. This establishment is designed to present Jean Jaurès’ activities and work, while ensuring research work and coordinating events based on the fundamental subjects and ideas of the 19th and 20th centuries.


History

Opened in February 1988 and inaugurated on 16 November of that year by François Mitterand, President of the French Republic, it was founded thanks to the City of Castres, which wanted to showcase the wealth of the Jaurès collections at the museum founded in 1954 to increase understanding of this great thinker, orator, journalist, writer and politician. The effective cooperation of the Société d'Etudes Jaurésiennes, chaired by Mrs Madeleine Rébéroiux, and the precious help of many specialists and historians have made it possible to create a coherent, thorough and modern cultural unit.

 

The collections

The ground floor holds the temporary exhibitions (free admission) on various subjects dealing with the period between 1880 and 1914 (economics, society, everyday life, culture), showcasing regional artists or presenting current issues. There is a rest area, a bar and a counter where visitors can buy postcards, posters and publications about Jean Jaurès.

The first floor houses the museum (paid admission) which gives a chronological and thematic presentation of the great orator’s life:
37 panels, 6 windows and two video terminals showcase various objects and documents. Busts, statuettes, international works on Jean Jaurès, paintings, moulds and workers’ tools are also exhibited.

The second floor has a conference room equipped with audiovisual equipment for projecting films and slides and for organising conferences, debates and seminars (seating capacity: 50 people).

The third floor is dedicated to preservation, consultation, research and documentation: books, reviews, newspapers and archives, which are made available to everyone who wants to use them, notably students, journalists and researchers. The Museum’s library, these works can be consulted on site and are not on loan. Firstly, there is everything written by and about Jean Jaurès and all the texts published when he was alive, but also manuscripts, photographs, a rich iconographic collection and many newspapers and magazines such as “La Dépêche” from 1887 to 1914, “La Petite République” from 1893 to 1903, “La Revue de l'Enseignement Primaire” from 1904 to 1914, etc.

The documentation and research centre has many interesting and rare booklets as well as major collections such as “Le Mouvement Socialiste” (1899-1914), Compère-Morel’s “Encyclopédie Socialiste” (1912-1921), stenographic reports of all the Socialist conferences from 1900 to 1920, essential documents published by the Second International, etc.

Jean Jaurès National Centre and Museum

2 place Pélisson - 81100 CASTRES

Tél. 05 63 62 41 83 - Fax : 05 63 50 39 02

e-mail : jaures@ville-castres.fr

Museum Visitors’ Service

Hôtel de Ville - B.P. 406

81108 CASTRES Cedex

Tél. : 05.63.71.59.28

Fax : 05.63.71.59.26

E-mail : jb.alba@ville-castres.fr

City of Castres

Friends of the museum of Castres