What's new at the Vieille-Brioude Vineyard Garden and Museum

Modified on July 23, 2025
Reading time: 2 minutes

The 2025 season of Museum and Garden of the Vineyard, in Vieille-Brioude, was officially opened on Saturday April 5 by the co-presidents, Lilian François and Fabien Rigaud.

A glimpse into History

"Conceived in 1996 and inaugurated in 1998," the museum has been "maintained and improved" continuously by volunteers. Among them, Fabien Rigaud recalled, were "gardeners, earthmovers, masons, painters, carpenters, mechanics, computer scientists, architects, cooks..."

For nearly 30 years, "projects have followed one another", including the installation of the bell on the pediment of the church, the highlighting of the wall paintings, then the restoration of the small vernacular heritage, the publication of booklets, the exhibition of artefacts discovered during the preventive excavations of the Vieille-Brioude bypass in 1995.

New Products

Two new features this year:

the installation of a safety glass pane on the monks' well

the relocation of the piggy bank to a location more conducive to donations and to the view of the 15.000 annual visitors to the site.

Le museum-vine garden “relies heavily on this equipment” to finance its projects.

Projects

The Vine and Heritage Museum has set itself several objectives: It wants to work with the town's traders and artisans, promote their expertise, and improve the museum's appeal outside of the summer period by creating events for Christmas, the music festival, etc. "And why not replant vines to perhaps one day make wine again," announced Fabien Rigaud.

The association is also involved in many other projects, including the lighting of the site and the cellars, the installation of a Belle Époque-style kiosk for wedding photos, and a flower-filled arbor at the entrance to the garden.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 19 p.m. until All Saints' Day, free admission.