Culture & HeritageFamily activitiesTraditions & Knowledge Article published on29th June 2022
About 50 minutes from Amboise, discover a timeless museum. The Maurice Dufresne Museum will surely amaze young and old.
Maurice Dufresne has collected during a long part of his life unique, unusual or rare pieces. Dating from the industrial revolution to the thirty glorious years, he has chosen to exhibit in this unique museum.
Maurice Dufresne, from farrier to big collector
Born of a family of farmers, Maurice trained with the Compagnons du Devoir as a farrier and then traveled through France. It was during one of these stages that he met his wife Jeannine. For nearly 4 years, he ran a farriery but felt that the end of the horse area was approaching. He then began by manufacturing tractor trailers. As a result, he started a new activity of metal recovery.
Witness to technical progress, he wishes to preserve this mechanical heritage from the 1850’s to the 1950’s at the service of the future generations. He travels around the world to find the rarest pieces. He finally opened his museum at the Moulin de Marnay in 1992 following many years of restoration.
Stubborn and obstinate, Maurice Dufresne clung to his dream until his death in 2008. Since, his daughter Monique has decided to continue his work and keep the family business.
A impressive collection
For 30 years, the museum has been enriched with an impressive collection of more than 3 000 varied objects. The visit is punctuated with anecdotes and memories that give life to these machines from another time. Children will also be delighted to have fun with the treasure hunt booklet available at reception.
Among the most remarkable pieces, you can admire the old gates of the Château de Chambord which welcome you at the entrance; the M8 howitzer which took part in the Normandy landings and which movie buffs will have seen in the film “Le Longest Day”; or the Peugeot electric cars, created to deal with fuel shortages during the Second World War. Car enthusiasts will not remain indifferent to a rare collection, ranging from Christian Pean’s Formula Libre CP2 single-seater from 1970 to the splendid Buick from the beginning of the 20th century, including the GMC truck from 1909. Lovers of the Bourvil-De Funès duo will recognize the two-seater glider featured in the famous film “La grande vadrouille”. The most gourmet will appreciate the many elements from the Poulain chocolate factory of Blois, as well as the candy box which inevitably offers us a return to childhood.
New in 2022: an entire floor is devoted to an exhibition retracing the war of 1870 in Touraine. Weapons, parts of uniforms, various objects… a dive into an unknown event which nevertheless strongly marked the Loire Valley.
A relaxing and inspiring place
The museum is located on the Moulin de Marnay property, a wheat and tan mill from the 17th century, then successively a paper mill, cannery and candy factory. It took 9 years for Maurice and his team to renovate the premises. The Mill has been rehabilitated and you will have the opportunity to discover it in operation within the museum. Between the noise of the impressive mechanism, the lapping of the water and the smells specific to this ancient machinery; no doubt that all your senses will be awakened.
At the end of the visit, take the time for a peaceful stroll along the Indre in a vast shaded park. You can also enjoy the family bar-restaurant which has a playground for children.
Musée Maurice Dufresne
17 Route de Marnay, 37190 Azay-le-Rideau
02 47 45 36 18
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