Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Museum, also known as Maison de la Monnaie, is a double cultural space located in Pont-à-Mousson. On the one hand, it traces the history of the city, marked by its iconic bridge and university, which radiated for two centuries before becoming the present University of Nancy. On the other hand, it celebrates an exceptional local craftsmanship: the manufacture of objects and furniture made of mâché paper or boiled cardboard, a technique which reached its peak in the 19th and 20th centuries thanks to the firm of the Brothers Adt. These creations, inspired by the Chinese, bear witness to an unknown artistic heritage but of great finesse.

The museum is housed in a former Renaissance mansion, whose architecture is partially protected as historical monuments. The entrance gate, with its carved wooden vantals, was classified by decree of 6 November 1980 for its heritage value. The façades, the roofs, the French ceilings and the two stairs were inscribed on November 25, 1987. These elements reflect the prestige of this building, which was probably the residence of an affluent family or a notable local in the 16th century.

Founded in 1999, the museum highlights two major parts of the Mussipontain identity. The ground floor is dedicated to urban history, from the foundation of the city around its bridge to the development of its industrial foundry, the SA Pont-à-Mousson, which marked the regional economy. The upper floors display a unique collection of paper-mashed objects, illustrating the ingenuity of local artisans. These pieces, often decorated with exotic or baroque motifs, were very popular in the 19th and 20th centuries to decorate bourgeois interiors.

The University of Pont-à-Mousson, mentioned in the collections, played a key role in the intellectual development of Lorraine. Founded in the 16th century, it attracted students and scholars from all over Europe, helping to make the city a major cultural home. Its legacy continues today through the University of Nancy, which is its direct heir. The museum thus recalls how Pont-à-Mousson, a small city in Lorraine, was able to mark history with its industrial, artistic and academic dynamism.

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