An hour away from Paris, and a stone’s throw from the medieval town of Provins, the Living History Museum recounts the life of the French in all regions between 1800 and 1950. The 38,000-square-foot museum is quite large, with its 103 life-size scenes and an exceptional popular art collection with 70,000 pieces. In 2024, the museum added two miniature scenes: Provencal Nativity with santons and the little electric train of our childhood.
It is the result of the combined work of Jérôme and Viviane de Witt, who created an endowment in order to ensure its longevity. In 2023, the museum was labelled Patrimoine d’intérêt régional and became one of the most remarkable and representative sites of the Île-de-France region.
The museum has been a place of inspiration and transmission since its creation in 2017 and reflects our contemporaries’ permanent desire to dive into past life.
The Living History Museum
Agenda
01 DECEMBER 2024
NEW SCENE !
The Little Electric Train of your Childhood
01/31 DECEMBER 2024
Exhibition
Provencal Nativity with Santons
17/21 DECEMBER 2024
Activity
Christmas at the Museum
08 MARCH 2025
Conference
"Work & Passion"
29 MARCH/13 APRIL 2025
School Posters "A day in the life of a mother"
19 APRIL 2025
Decoration Workshop
"Easter Eggs"
06/25 MAY 2025
Exhibition/Conferences
The Railway Adventure
17 MAY 2025
European Museum Night
21/22 JUNE 2025
Great Flea market
20/21 SEPTEMBER 2025
Ephemeral Village, games and trades of the past
20/21 SEPTEMBER 2025
European Heritage Days
22/29 OCTOBRE 2025
Event
Halloween Special Days
December 2024 / NEW SCENE ! The little electric train
In December 2024, the Living History Museum unveiled a stunning new setting that will make you dream: the little electric train of our childhood. Dive into a sweet feeling of nostalgia, and let yourself be taken away into the magic of this model, conceived by the founder of the museum, Count Jérôme de Witt, and his accomplice Francis Mathé. Travel back in time and experience the wonders of this magical journey !
01/31 December 2024 Provencal Nativity with santons
For all of December, dive into Christmas magic and discover an authentic Provencal Nativity scene with santons. A whole Provencal village with countless typical ornamental figurines of Provence (Santons de Provence). A traditional craftsmanship dedicated to Christmas magic. Guaranteed wonder for all !
17/21 December 2024 Christmas at the Museum
From December 17th to December 21st, come and celebrate Christmas at the History of Living Museum with your children. During this week before Christmas, readings of Christmas tales with a cup of gourmet hot chocolate, and creative Christmas-card workshops will be organized in the atrium of the museum. While children are busy, parents and grandparents will be able to enjoy a tour of the Museum. A fun-filled day at the Living History Museum, for young and old!
8 March 2025 “Work and Passion”
This conference will take place on Saturday May 8th with Claude Monteil, former mason and stonecutter, “Compagnon de Devoir du Tour de France”[Craftsmen Association for Professional Training in France]. Young people, their parents, teachers or apprenticeship supervisors, are invited to a presentation. Claude Monteil loves transmitting the idea that manual work is not only a way to make a living, but also a valuable reservoir of knowledge, a passion that makes life more beautiful, allows you to make friends, and find happiness.
29 March/13 April 2025 School Posters “A day in the life of a mother”
In the atrium of the museum, visitors will be able to admire a collection of school posters on the theme of “A day in the life of a mother,” gathered by Professor Jean-Pierre Vieville, from March 29th to April 12th.
On Saturday 5th May at 3pm, he will put on his school-teacher costume to talk about the importance of the posters pinned in the classrooms during the 30-years post-war boom in France.
19 April 2025 “Easter eggs” decoration workshop
On Saturday 19th April, from 10am to 6pm, an Easter Egg decorating workshop for children will take place in the atrium where Edouard, a friend of the museum, will run this creative and recreational workshop in the spirit of Easter. While children are busy decorating eggs, parents and grandparents will be able to enjoy a tour of the Museum. A fun-filled day at the Living History Museum, for young and old !
6/25 May 2025 “The Railway Adventure”
From May 6th to May 25th, discover our temporary exhibition on “The Railway Adventure.” It is an exceptional adventure that visitors will be able to experience in the Museum atrium. The exhibition will present objects of the everyday life of former railwaymen, from the personal collection of Daniel Combrexelle, a former railway worker who once was in the driver’s seat of the famous Orient Express.
Saturday 17 May 2025 European Museum Night
On Saturday the 17th of May, the Living History Museum will extend its opening hours until 9pm for the European Museum Night. On this occasion, come and discover our temporary exhibition “The Railway Adventure”. Daniel Combrexelle, a former railway worker, who once was in the driver’s seat of the famous Orient Express, will give an exceptional presentation about how the railway transformed the life of the population at that time. Discover the birth of this amazing adventure with him !
21/22 June 2025 Great Flea market
Let’s meet at the Living History Museum Great Flea Market on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd of June 2025 from 9am to 6pm. An event both for families and antique and second-hand goods enthusiasts. Visitors or exhibitors, contact us and get all the information available.
20/21 September 25 Ephemeral Village, games and trades
Take a family dive into a unique re-enactment, and discover many games and more than 20 ancient trades and skills. This event was especially designed for children and allows them to discover life in the old days in a playful atmosphere. We will welcome you in the Museum’s park on the 20th and 21st of September 2025 from 10am onwards !
20/21 September 2025 European Heritage Days
During the 2025 European Heritage Days, on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st of September, be sure to visit the History of Living Museum, because more than 20 past crafts will be presented in the museum and the garden. This event is especially designed for children and will allow them to take part playfully in the life of the past.
22/29 October 2025 Halloween special
Be ready for a Halloween night to remember at The Living History Museum ! On Wednesday 29th of October from 2pm to 6pm, join us and take part in our pumpkin-carving competition and card-making. From the 22nd to the 29th of October, from 2pm to 6pm, come and listen to Les Contes de la Veillée, mesmerizing tales that will make you shiver !
Visit
Tour of the 105 scenes of life in the past
Take a few hours to forget about the modern world, and get ready to travel back in time and discover the daily life, obscure beliefs, trades and skills of the past in this remarkable place.
Ticket information
The History of Living Museum
Book your tickets online to visit the History of Living Museum and its huge collection of 70,000 objects, staged in 103 life-size scenes. In 2024, the museum added two miniature scenes : Provencal Nativity with santons and the little electric train of our childhood. Share our activities with your family. Discover our temporary exhibitions, and let us surprise you with our events.
Museum Workshops
Children have fun discovering life in the past!
During school breaks, try our school’s dictation. Take your family to spot the odd one out in 20 historical scenes of the museum, where objects of today have been placed inappropriately.
Presentation
The birth of the History of Living Museum
This unique young museum was created in 2017 by Viviane and Jérôme De Witt, and is situated in Seine-et-Marne, about 130 miles south-west of Paris. In addition to being brand new, this museum is highly ambitious – introducing young and old to the life of our ancestors in France from 1800 to 1850.
Café restaurant
Welcome to Chez Grand’Mère
Take a moment to rest at the Museum café, which is also the local bar of les Ormes-sur-Voulzie. You can even have a delicious meal at the restaurant Chez Grand’Mère, where two chefs oversee the kitchen with passion and dedication. They offer a delicious traditional cuisine in a warm and homey atmosphere, with a breathtaking view of an extraordinary 60-foot replica of the Eiffel Tower, otherwise indistinguishable from its “big sister”.
Unique
The Museum Eiffel Tower, an attraction for the young & old
Truly an attraction for all, the realistically recreated Eiffel Tower was built by Jean-Paul Caudoux, a remarkable personality! He built this masterpiece in 1989 for the Parisian monument’s 100th anniversary, and as an homage to “the big sister.” It lights up on Friday and Saturday evenings, for your greatest pleasure.
Privatisation
Plan your event in the Eiffel Tower Room
You wish to organise a special event in our restaurant? This large reception room is full of light and offers an exceptional view of the 60-foot Eiffel Tower. It also has access to the terrace outside. The room can accommodate about 100 guests. It is equipped with a projector and a large screen and can welcome business events.
Shop
For a souvenir
or a last minute gift
Extend your experience and take a piece of the museum home with you at the History of Living Museum’s shop, where you will discover a unique selection of gifts and souvenirs.
Embroidery hoop offered by Groupe Prieur, Patron of the museum.
Patronage
Support us
The Living History Museum works thanks to endowment funds. Join the circle of patrons and benefactors. Support our exhibitions with a financial contribution or enrich our collection with an object donation. Financial donations allow you to benefit from a tax deduction up to 66% of the donated amount. Object donations will become part of the exhibition after being accepted by the committee of the Living History Museum. You wish to support the Living History Museum with a donation or have questions? Please contact us! To learn more about patronage culture.gouv.fr/Thematiques/mecenat
Video conference
Tourism professionals
If you are tourism professional, and want to take your clients to the Living History Museum, take a look at our exclusive promotional video conceived for professionals. Feel free to present the video to your clients and organise a visit or an event at our museum. Contact us by email museevieautrefois@orange.fr
We will be happy to send it to you.
Publication
Press file
Learn more about he genesis of the museum, its birth, all of the 103 life-size scenes, and two miniature scenes : Provencal Nativity with santons and the little electric train of our childhood, and all the practical information you need.
Schools
Why take your students?
To discover the daily lives of their ancestors, the recreated places where they used to live, the forgotten skills, the ancient trades, fairground arts and much more. With children the museum takes on its full meaning.
Testimonies
"The most lively museum!
One word – LOVE! If you don’t go and visit it and have lunch in their excellent family restaurant then you will never see what I call a REAL MUSEUM! On your own or for a family trip you will never forget"
Caroline Margeridon
"Take your children!
A museum filled with a vast collection of objects that retrace 150 years of history from 1800 to 1950. A pleasant welcome and more than 100 spaces to wander. An audio-guide and a game complement the visit and provide a captivating experience for young and old."
"A beautiful discovery!
A museum that takes us back in time for two hours! The collection of ancient objects is impressive and a game for the whole family takes us through a search for anachronistic objects all along the visit."
Corinne Boichot
Partnerships
