Marquèze Ecomuseum
- route de la Gare 40630 SABRES
Marquèze Ecomuseum in Landes
An ecomuseum unique in France!
The Marquèze Ecomuseum was created in 1969 by the Landes de Gascogne Regional Natural Park. It was one of the very first ecomuseums in France. Its mission is to conserve, study and educate on the heritage of the Grande Lande by reconstructing the 19th environment of its inhabitants.
150 years ago, this society of shepherd-farmers was so closely interwoven with its environment that it disappeared where the moor gave way to the forest. Marquèze tells the story of this unique connection between society and environment, and its economic, cultural and social consequences in one of the largest open-air museums in France.
A preserved and reconstructed heritage site in Landes
Marquèze was the first ecomuseum in France to use the technique of building transfers to recreate this environment. Two thirds of the buildings from the surrounding areas were transferred, and the fields, resinous forest, and even the milling area were reconstructed in order to recreate the area just as it was in the 19th century.
The breed of sheep on the moor, the cultivation of ancient grains, the gardens, down to the furniture in the houses, stage this society at the dawn of metamorphosis.
Activities arriving in the morning?
- Old-fashioned cooking at La Maison du Mineur – 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
- History of resin extraction and evolution in techniques at La cabane du Gemmeur – 10:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
- Educational garden – 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Activities in the afternoon?
- Spinning demonstration at La borde de l’airial – 1:15 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Tour of the mill and operations at the Moulin – 2:30 to 3:45 p.m. and 4:30 to 6:00 p.m.
- Medicinal plants and their uses at the Jardin des simples – 2:30 to 4:00 p.m.
- History of resin extraction and evolution in techniques at La cabane du Gemmeur – 4:15 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.
- Weaving demonstration at La maison des brassiers – 4:30 to 5:45 p.m.