Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Ferme-musée du Cotentin is located in the buildings of the Beauvais farm, an architectural complex dating back to the late 16th century. Originally, this manor farm belonged to wealthy local families, including Sieur Beauvais, who gave it its name at the beginning of the 18th century. It illustrates the evolution of agricultural practices in Plain, a region specialized in cattle and equine breeding since the seventeenth century.

The historical context of the farm is marked by the gradual transition from crops to dairy farming from the 19th century. This period saw the emergence of the first industrial dairies, transforming rural landscapes into grasslands. The Beauvais farm, operated until 1976, embodies this Norman agricultural specialization.

In 1979, the Conseil départemental de la Manche acquired the farm and transformed it into a museum to preserve rural heritage. The collections, created in the 1970s, were enriched by donations from local farmers, reflecting agricultural work, handicrafts and daily life from the 19th to the 20th centuries. The Farm-museum is distinguished by its living approach, integrating animals of local breeds and demonstrations of ancient know-how.

It offers temporary exhibitions and seasonal activities, such as buttermaking or manual milking, strengthening its educational and cultural role. Today, the Cotentin Museum Farm is a key site of the departmental network of museums of the Channel. It combines the preservation of tangible and intangible heritage, while raising public awareness of Norman agricultural history.

Its preserved architecture and its varied collections make it a must-see place to understand the evolution of the countryside.

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