Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Bourgoin-Jallieu Museum was created in 1929 on the initiative of the municipality and the painter Victor Charreton, before opening its doors to the public in 1933. Its development is based on major donations, such as that of a collection of weapons in 1949, followed in 1950 by the acquisition of an archaeological fund from local excavations. These initial acquisitions lay the foundation for a museum rooted in the region's industrial and cultural history.

In 1970, the museum inaugurated a department dedicated to textiles, reflecting the economic identity of Bourgoin-Jallieu, marked by the establishment of the first printing factory in 1897. The peak of this industry, between 1925 and 1930, shaped local life before the crises of the 1950s. The museum documents this evolution, from ancestral techniques to contemporary innovations, while preserving the memory of local know-how.

A major overhaul took place in 1992, refocusing the collections on textile finishing and modernizing the spaces. The renovation of 2000 sets the course on three levels, integrating permanent exhibitions, educational rooms and a documentation centre. The museum also showcases the work of two landscape painters, Alfred Bellet of Poisat and Victor Charreton, including the artistic heritage dialogue with industrial history.

The building itself, an ancient Antonine chapel built in 1503 and integrated into an 18th-century Hôtel-Dieu, embodies the superposition of the eras. Located in the heart of the city, it symbolizes both the religious, medical and industrial heritage of Bourgoin-Jallieu, while serving as a link between past and present.

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