Musée de l'ardoise, Slate mining museum in Trélazé, France.
The Musée de l'ardoise is a museum in Trélazé that documents the history of slate mining in the region. It displays mining tools, rock samples, and equipment that show how slate was extracted and worked over many centuries.
The region started mining slate around 600 years ago and grew into an important center for this industry. The museum itself was founded in 1984 by former workers to preserve this craft and its importance to the area.
The museum's name reflects how slate defined this entire region and the people who worked with it for centuries. Visitors encounter the skills and methods that shaped local identity and supported countless families through traditional craftsmanship.
The museum offers guided tours where you can learn about slate mining and see traditional techniques in action. It helps to plan ahead since visiting times may be limited, and a guided tour is a good way to understand everything that matters.
The exhibition shows how slate workers split stone into sheets using just their hands and basic tools – a skill that took decades to master. This manual precision was at the heart of the entire industry and remains striking to see today.
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