La Malterie – Musée de la Mémoire chapelaine

Located on rue de la Gare, Malterie de Champagne was founded in 1883 by the Bonnette brothers.

The malthouse was founded in 1883 by the Bonnette brothers. This modern factory consisted of granaries, steeping vats, germination huts, a double-deck kiln and malt silos.

Its main activity was to transform barley into malt (the raw material used to make beer and whisky) using a steeping process that allowed artificial germination. In 1975, logistical problems and increased competition led the Champagne malting plant to cease production and close its premises.

In 1995, the local council decided to immortalise the town's past in the maltings' former grain shops. Since 2000, it has been home to the Musée de l'Ancienne Malterie de Champagne, a museum showcasing the town's 20th-century heritage thanks to donations from local families, businesses and friends.

The museum features a pre-war dwelling, a classroom from the 1950s, a post office from the 1930s, models of the 1892 roundhouses, a locomotive, a fire engine from 1935, farming tools and many other curiosities.

And to make the site even more attractive, occasional exhibitions are organised throughout the year.

Through its permanent exhibitions, the museum highlights three major themes:
>> The history of the railway and its impact on the region.
>> Daily life in the early 20th century, illustrated by a rich collection of period objects.
>> Old trades, testimony to local know-how and traditions.