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Origin and history

The Cité des Batliers is a French museum located in Longuil-Annel, in the Hauts-de-France, entirely dedicated to the history and traditions of batellerie. Opened to the public in July 2000, it is part of a village marked by its river past, which became an important port with the Industrial Revolution and the construction of the lateral canal in L'Oise (1826-1831). This canal transformed Longeuil-Annel, attracting boatmen who settled there, creating a community linked to the waterway, with red brick houses and a social life rhythmized by the boats.

The idea of the museum was born in 1992, when Jacques Broutin, a former barter, organized an exhibition on the batellerie which met with great success. This led to the creation of the association "Amicale" of the Waterway Museum in 1993, and to a museum project led by the community of communes of the Two Valleys (CC2V). After studying and bidding, the museum was inaugurated on 9 July 2000 in the presence of Michelle Demessine, Secretary of State for Tourism. The association played a key role, both in collecting objects and in facilitating visits.

The museum consists of three main areas: the Museum House, which traces the history of the village and the social struggles of the sailors; the houseboat Freycinet, reconstructing the daily life of the boatmen; and sound kiosks along the canal, evoking river traditions. Guided tours by former sailors, children's workshops (Putits Mouss and Mousillons), and events such as the Pardon of the Batellerie (first Sunday in July) animate the place. Every year around July 20, the museum also celebrates its anniversary.

The scenography mixes models, films, sound books and historical objects to plunge visitors into the world of boatmen. The course, lasting 1h45 inside and up to half a day with the walk along the banks, highlights the intangible heritage of the shipwork. Temporary exhibitions in the barge hold and collaborations with the CC2V regularly enrich the cultural offer.

Longueuil-Annel, with its 32 cafes at its peak and its brick houses at the edge of the water, remains a symbol of river life. The museum perpetuates this memory, relying on the testimonies of retired sailors and transmitting to future generations a lifestyle that is now gone. The Pardon of the Batellerie, with its pavoised barges and nautical joustes, attracts more than 7,000 visitors each year, highlighting the continuing attachment to this heritage.

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