Period covered 1880–1960 (≈ 1920)
From the Third to the Fifth Republic.
1980
Museum Foundation
Museum Foundation 1980 (≈ 1980)
Created by Francis Loubés in the old school.
1er septembre 2009
Administrative connection
Administrative connection 1er septembre 2009 (≈ 2009)
Integration with the Museum of Fine Arts.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Key figures
Francis Loubés - Founder of the museum
Collector and restorer of school materials.
Origin and history
The Musée de l'École de Carcassonne is located in the heart of the medieval city, in the department of Aude. Since 2009, it has been administratively attached to the city's art museum. This unique place preserves and exhibits objects, furniture and school documents covering the period from the Third to the Fifth Republic (1880–1960), offering a concrete testimony of the evolution of teaching methods in France.
Founded in 1980 by Francis Loubés, the museum was born from a passion for collecting and restoring old school materials. Initially a leisure activity, this project was transformed into a major cultural initiative, supported by the municipality. The former communal school of the city was chosen to house the collections, allowing a faithful reconstruction of the classrooms of the past, with wooden desks, black paintings and stage.
The museum exhibits revolve around a variety of themes, such as school battalions, French colonies, or historical projection apparatus. Interactive workshops, such as pen writing or dictations inspired by the study certificate, complete the visit. A specialized library, consisting of textbooks and teaching materials, is also available to researchers and students.
The museum regularly offers temporary exhibitions such as Recreation (2025–2026) or At the foot of the letter (2020). These events highlight unknown aspects of school history, while building on the rich collections of the managing association. The objective is both heritage and educational, aimed at transmitting the memory of communal schools through concrete materials.
Since its creation, the museum has worked closely with the city of Carcassonne to organize animations and thematic visits. These initiatives allow the public to relive the atmosphere of the Dantan classes, while discovering the evolution of teaching practices over nearly a century. The place is intended for both nostalgic and new generations, anxious to understand the French educational past.
