Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

In 1975, the inhabitants of Loubaresse (Cantal) mobilized around Guy Brun to restore a farm built between 1788 and 1844, symbol of peasant life in Margeride. Thanks to the testimonies and archives, they restored its 19th century interior, thus opening the Maison du Paysan, which in 1984 became the Farm of Pierre Allègre, from the name of its owner in the middle of the 19th century. This site, controlled by the Direction des musées de France, is the only ecomuseum in Auvergne recognized by the State.

The ecomuseum extends with the Jardin de Saint-Martin in 1985, built at the foot of a medieval tower of Ruynes-en-Margeride, highlighting the geology, flora and fauna of the region. In 1986, the school of the hamlet of Signalauze, closed in 1983, was restored and renamed the school of Clémence Fontille, in tribute to an early 20th century teacher. The site recreates the rural school life of the 1930s, complementing the heritage offer with the Viaduc de Garabit, whose ecomuseum provides visits and exhibitions.

The three sites (farm, school, garden) and the viaduct, listed in the additional inventory of Historic Monuments, are strictly preserved and inventoried. With 9,000 annual visitors, the ecomuseum combines preservation of the material heritage (furniture, tools, buildings) and immaterial (trades, pedagogy), while valuing the unique landscapes of the Margeride, between moors, pine forests and granite. His scientific and collaborative approach makes him a key player in the transmission of Auvergne rural history.

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