THE GUIDE MUSEUMS 2021


From top: Maison Bonaparte in Ajaccio, where Napoleon was born; Maison des Canuts offers a fascinating insight into the silk industry


really need to visit this delightful homage to le chapeau. Charting the rise and fall of luxury felt headwear produced in Chazelles- sur-Lyon, this space is packed with imagination-tickling displays: industrial machines, mannequins and all sorts of colourful headwear dating back to the 18th century, both functional and fashionable. You can even try some of them on for size. Whether you’re into the manufacturing side of things, or you can’t get enough of cloches and coifs, this factory-cum- museum is a fitting tribute to the last of the great milliners. Until October 2021, there’s the added bonus of an exhibition of competition-winning hats from all over the world. www.museeduchapeau.com


Maison Bonaparte Ajaccio, Corse-du-Sud We’re all familiar with the story of Boney, of course, but did you know that he wasn’t born in


136 ❘ FRANCE TODAY Aug/Sep 2021


mainland France? The Little Corporal instead entered the world in 1769 on the island of Corsica – in the capital city of Ajaccio, to be precise. Head for rue Saint-Charles, and you can see his birthplace for yourself. It’s unassuming on the outside, set in a narrow alley cluttered with shops and outdoor cafés. Inside, however, Napoleon’s first nine years of life are explored through a wealth of artefacts and exquisite period furnishings – including the very bed in which he was born. musees-nationaux-malmaison.fr/ musee-maisonbonaparte


Musée de la Bande Dessinée Angoulême, Charente Billions of blue blistering barnacles! If you’re a fan of Tintin, Captain Haddock, Asterix, Obelix, Lucky Luke or the Smurfs, then you’ll love this museum in Angoulême, dedicated to the art and literature of comic books,


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IMAGES © SHUTTERSTOCK, WIKIMEDIA


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