Museo Heritage Center

The Heritage Space of Chalon-sur-Saône

Located in an 18th centurytownhouse anddedicated to the interpretation of the city’sarchitecture and heritage, l’Espace Patrimoine or Heritage Space,will allow you todiscoverandunderstandthe evolution andurban contours of Chalon thanks to its permanentexhibition. It also hosts temporary exhibitions (to the left as you enterthe building) and a giftshop.Photographs from today and reproductions of maps and engravings from the pastareexhibitedat the entrance,revealingsurprising and unknown details and perspectives.A maprepresented on the floor shows the historic center of the city.Furthermore, we invite you toexplorea roomentirelydevoted to the description, by historical period, of the city’s growthand development.Initially an open city in Ancient Roman times,Chalonwould becomeprotected towards the end of antiquity thanks to three successive walls, each increasingly vast,within which other enclosed areaswere built(such as monasteriesandfortifiedhouses).Inthe late 18th century,the city wouldonceagainopen itself upto its surroundings through thepartial destructionof its ramparts andthroughthe construction of roads,quaysandthe arrivalof new types of transport,untilitsexpansionreached the excessive proportions thatcharacterizedmajor urban centres from the1950s to the1970s... beforefinallyreturning to amore modest and coordinated urbanistic approach in the 1980s. A filmis also featured thatrecounts the industrial saga ofthelarge Chalon company known as «le Petit Creusot»,founded by the Schneider brothers in 1839.

An indispensable resource for patrimonial discovery, the Heritage Spacealso bears testimonyto thecity’s privileged status as part ofthenational network of «Towns and Lands of Art andHistory».You will find there all the information you need,along with brochures and touringroutes to help you set out on your discovery-visit of Chalon-sur-Saône and its heritage sites,by your own meansor in the company of aprofessionaltour guide. Workshops for childrenand teens, guided tours for adults and families, you’ll find something for everyone at theHeritage Space!Sowe wish you a very pleasant visit!