The exhibition spans four rooms on the upper floors of the Château, each designed as
a chapter in a grand narrative.
• The origins: geology and archaeology
The first room immerses visitors in the natural setting of the upper Cher valley.
Rocks, ores, coal: these geological resources explain as much the architecture
as the future industrial boom. Over 200 archaeological objects — tools, pottery, graves — from recent excavations are on display. A model brought to life by projection mapping
takes visitors through the major periods, from Prehistory to the Middle Ages, illustrating
the changes to the landscape.
• The birth of the fortified town
The second gallery tells the story of Montluçon from the Middle Ages to the Revolution. Perched on its rocky promontory, the site became a castrum, before acquiring a castle and its ramparts.
Around it, the town flourished: houses, places of worship, and a strategic bridge over the Cher. An animated model and remarkable artefacts — carved columns, pottery, and
— bear witness to this vitality and the ambition of the Dukes of Bourbon.
• Industrial growth
The third gallery transports visitors to the 19th century. With the Berry Canal and the
railway, Montluçon was transformed into a leading centre for metallurgy and glassmaking.
Industries and people flocked to the area, radically changing the face of the town. An animated model and striking archive images bring this bustling atmosphere to life. A
key industrial artefacts complete the picture, some of which visitors can touch.
• Views of the City
Finally, the last gallery offers a sensory experience: comparing old
and present-day views of Montluçon, taken from the same angle. A way of seeing at a glance
how much the city has transformed over the course of a century.
OVER 500 OBJECTS ON DISPLAY!
