Musée Crozatier

In Le Puy-en-Velay, the Crozatier museum occupies a large building set in the Henri-Vinay garden, a few steps from the town centre. It is named after Charles Crozatier, a local bronze-founder whose bequest funded the premises: the present building was inaugurated in 1868.

An encyclopaedic museum, it runs from prehistory to the 20th century, and the visit takes about 1 hour 30. Four galleries: historical, Velay, fine arts and sciences. Along the way, Egyptian mummies in their coffins, ancient Greek vases, Anancus arvernensis (the Auvergne mastodon), paintings and sculptures from the 15th to the early 20th century, and the local star, Le Puy lace, with a lacemaker's pillow holding 500 bobbins.

The route was entirely rethought during the building work carried out from 2013 until the reopening in 2018. Allow €8 full price, €5 reduced, free for under-18s (2026 prices). In September-October 2026, the museum closes on Tuesday; in November-December, on Monday and Tuesday. During school holidays, it opens every day.

Our take, frankly: for a museum of this size, the density is real, you go from fossil to painting with no transition. Ideal on a rainy day or with children.