Musée Matheysin, History museum in La Mure, France
The Musée Matheysin is a history museum in La Mure, Isère, housed in the Maison Caral, the oldest building in the old town. It presents collections covering archaeology, coal mining, local crafts, and regional history, alongside a garden with tools and machines, and rotating temporary exhibitions each season.
The museum opened in 1994 inside the Maison Caral and holds objects partly originating from the Musée Dauphinois, one of the oldest collections in the Grenoble area. Its holdings trace the story of the Matheysine from prehistoric times through Roman occupation, the religious wars of the 16th century, and the industrial era.
The museum highlights the everyday lives of miners, tanners, and traveling merchants who shaped the Matheysine region. A dedicated room presents works by painters and sculptors from the 19th and 20th centuries who drew inspiration from the area.
The museum sits in the heart of La Mure's old town and is easy to reach on foot, with a small parking area nearby for those arriving by car. It is open from April to September, every afternoon except Tuesdays, and a visit typically takes about an hour.
The museum offers a Napoleon trail that guides visitors through the streets of La Mure and nearby villages such as Laffrey and Corps, following places linked to Napoleon's passage through the area. A free app called 'Napoleon en Matheysine' lets families explore this route with interactive activities along the way.
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