Property of Pierre Soulisse 1830 (≈ 1830)
House owned by the carpenter Pierre Soulisse.
1859
Acquisition by the municipality
Acquisition by the municipality 1859 (≈ 1859)
Turned into a village elementary school.
1970
School closure
School closure 1970 (≈ 1970)
Building released for a new project.
1992
Creation of the Fisheries Museum
Creation of the Fisheries Museum 1992 (≈ 1992)
Added a section dedicated to fishing.
1998
Municipalization of the museum
Municipalization of the museum 1998 (≈ 1998)
Management transferred to the municipality and rehabilitation.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Key figures
Pierre Soulisse - Carpenter and owner in 1830
Initial owner of the house.
Origin and history
The Musée d'histoire locale et de la pêche de Talmont-sur-Gironde is housed in an old 18th century house, located near the church of Sainte-Radegonde. This building, whose foundations could be traced back to earlier constructions, was rebuilt during the 18th century, a period of renovation for several houses in the village. Today it embodies a typical architectural heritage of this time, while hosting collections dedicated to local history and traditions.
In 1830, the house belonged to Pierre Soulisse, a local carpenter. After two changes of owners, it was acquired by the commune in 1859 to install the elementary school of the village. This place retains its educational vocation until 1970, when the decline in the number of pupils led to its closure. The building was then purchased by Talmont's friends' society, which set up a museum dedicated to local history, completed in 1992 by a traditional fishing area.
The museum was municipalized in 1998 and rehabilitated thanks to a joint union between the Charente-Maritime General Council and the commune. Its collections cover several themes: paleontology, history of the church and the closed city, as well as fishing techniques in the Gironde estuary. The exhibits include fossils, pottery, everyday objects, and models that trace the evolution of the bastide. A yole, a traditional fishing boat, is also presented in the courtyard.
The museum is part of a touristic context, Talmont-sur-Gironde being ranked among the most beautiful villages in France. It illustrates both the local architectural heritage and the fishing traditions, major historical activities of the Gironde estuary. Its evolution, from a communal school to a cultural one, reflects the social and economic transformations of the region.
