Creation of the museum 1982 (≈ 1982)
Inauguration during the visit of Michel Crépeau.
1er janvier 2010
Change in governance
Change in governance 1er janvier 2010 (≈ 2010)
Integration into the Community of municipalities.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Key figures
Michel Crépeau - Minister for the Environment (1982)
Inaugurate the museum during its visit.
Origin and history
The Museum of Peasant Life in Haut-Languedoc is located in the old farm of Rieumontagné, near Lake Laouzas, on the town of Nages (Tarn). Created in 1982 at the initiative of the Haut-Languedoc Regional Natural Park, it was inaugurated during the visit of Michel Crépeau, then Minister of the Environment. Since then, it has continued to enrich and modernize, while remaining managed by intercommunal structures (SIVOM du Laouzas and then Community of Municipalities of the Lacaune Mountains). The collections, owned by the Rieumontagné Heritage Research Centre, cover all aspects of local rural life, from agricultural tools to artisanal traditions.
The museum offers an immersion in the peasant life of the Monts de Lacaune through faithful reconstitutions: inside a farm with its common room and fireplace, dairy dedicated to the manufacture of Roquefort, breeding of sheep of Lacaune breed, and workshops of artisans (forgeron, carpenter, sabotier). A hall exposes agricultural machinery before tractors, such as ploughs, mowers or harvesters. Other spaces cover various themes: regional geology, local fauna, 1950s school, or the construction of the Laouzas dam. A library preserves ancient books and postcards relating the history of the region.
Beyond its museum vocation, the site houses the Rieumontagné Heritage Research Centre, which regularly publishes books on local history and traditions. Open mainly in summer, the museum offers guided tours and welcomes researchers. Its territorial anchoring is strengthened by its proximity to the leisure base of Laouzas and its role in preserving a threatened rural heritage. The historical periods mentioned extend from Neolithic (with statues-menhirs) to World War I, through the Roman way and the medieval castles of the region.
The organization of the museum is based on shared governance: the walls belong to the Community of Municipalities of the Lacaune Mountains, while the collections and their presentation are provided by the Heritage Research Centre. The staff is paid by the community of communes, with partial co-financing. This collaborative structure allows for sustainable management and continuous enrichment of exhibitions, while ensuring their accessibility to the public.
