Maison des enfants de l'Assistance publique et des nourrices, Social history museum in Alligny-en-Morvan, France.
This house is a museum in a former post office building that tells the story of a unique social practice. The spaces recreate what a village street looked like, with objects and documents from that era.
From the late 1700s, thousands of women from this region traveled to Paris and other European cities to care for children of wealthy families and royal courts. This work ended after World War I when social conditions changed.
The displays show how wet nursing shaped the lives of local women and connected remote villages to wealthy urban families. Visitors encounter personal objects and stories that reveal the emotional bonds and hardships of this profession.
The museum is best visited during warmer months when it is fully open, with extended evening hours on certain days in summer. It is wise to check opening times in advance and allow time to explore the exhibition spaces at a comfortable pace.
The museum works with visitors to research and document family histories and ancestry lines. People with local roots can contribute their own memories and family records to the growing collection.
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