Our take
Thiers makes 70% of French knives: here you see how, live. The forge demonstrations are impressive.
Forging, assembly, polishing: France's knife capital shows you everything, live.
Thiers has been the French capital of cutlery for centuries, and its museum tells the whole story, spread over two sites on rue de la Coutellerie, in the old town above the Durolle. One building traces the adventure of the Thiers knife and presents nearly 700 pieces from the 16th century to today; the other houses the Maison des couteliers, where young craftspeople (grinder, polisher, assembler) make knives before your eyes. The museum is completed by the Vallée des Rouets site, where a water-powered rouet (grinding mill) still turns and where you discover the technique of the grinders who work lying down, flat on their stomachs above the grindstone.
Why we love it
- Two sites for the whole story of the Thiers knife
- The Maison des couteliers: knives made live in front of you
- The Vallée des Rouets and its grinders working lying down above the Durolle
Top tip
Demonstrations take place at set times (check the website). In summer, the combined ticket with the Vallée des Rouets is worth it, as the rouet only turns in season. Leave with a real Thiers knife, made locally.
Before you go
- Free parking nearby.
- Check the website before you come, the demonstrations have set times.
- Opening hours change every season: check the period before making the trip
- July-August is the widest window: every day, 10:00-13:00 then 13:30-19:00
- In the second half of March, then from October to December, afternoons only, 14:00-18:00
- The ticket office closes before the museum: last entry at 17:15, 18:15 in July-August
- In January, the museum is shut for its annual closure: it reopens in early February
Practical info
- Address
- 23 Rue de la Coutellerie, 63300 Thiers, France
63300 Thiers - MondayClosed
- TuesdayClosed
- Wednesday14h–18h
- Thursday14h–18h
- Friday14h–18h
- Saturday14h–18h
- TodayClosed
Opening hours
What visitors say
Google rating
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It's for you if
- You want to see a knife being made, forge included
- You're after a Laguiole at factory prices
- You're coming with children: there are workshops just for them
Give it a miss if
- You turn up without checking the demonstrations: they run at set times
- You're in a hurry: allow 1 hour to 1 hour 30 on site
Your logbook
Around Musée de la Coutellerie
4 spots in and around Thiers, enough to build your day.
Where to stay nearby
Hikes nearby
Waymarked routes within 15 km, GPX track included.
On foot
On footWorth a read
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