Musée du Compagnonnage — Attraction in Tours

For anyone who has any appreciation of craftsmanship, this exibition will blow your mind! The venue was under renovation when we went in September 2017, and involved climbing stairs constructed on scaffolding, tucked away behind the church. I am disabled, so this would not normally have been an option for me, but I was so determined to see it that I crawled up the steps, and shimmied back down on my nether regions! It was well worth the struggle to see the incredible work done by trainee craftsmen, possibly as exhibit-pieces for entry into the upper eschelons of Master Craftsmen. The pieces displayed cannot be described just as 'models', but more as 'miniatures' - perfect, tiny works of art in wood, stone, leather, icing, dough, plaster,.....from church spires to shoes to staircases. Sometimes, a drawing just isn't enough to convey an idea nor image, and building a church from written instructions isn't an option - especially if the client is 50 miles away? So these were portable 'samples', made before the days of electric tools and computer measurements - true...

An interesting insight into the history of the 'guilds', and precursors to trade unions. Also some fascinating examples of the items prepared for admission into said guilds, and the prized 'cane' acquired. Beware, dont follow Google Maps for the entrance, it is now from Rue Nationale, down the stairs in front of St Julian's, and to the left. (Stairs beside the small building on the corner of Rue Colbert, with the hairdresser). It is also only accessible by a steel staircase. Another display there, but only until Nov '22, is on the rebuild of Notre Dame...

It's a small museum. If you go fast, you can see everything in ten minutes. But that would be an error. The masterpieces exposed there are really impressive if you take time to watch carefully, read the explanations and think that all was hand-made. Wooden frames, stone works, and metal works are my favorites. The design ingenious designs and crafting skills needed to accomplish the works is just out of reach for the common imagination. Also you can discover the tradition of...