Musée de Saint-Chef
Located in the heart of the village, in a 15th-century house, the museum traces nearly XNUMX centuries of history in Saint-Chef: the origins of the abbey, the interpretation of the Romanesque frescoes of the church, local traditions, Louis Seigner and Frédéric Dard.
The museum is a must-see place to discover the richness of the historic center of Saint-Chef.
Housed in the former residence of the Lord of By, the collections are divided into two large thematic rooms.
The village's history begins in the 15th century with the creation of a hermitage. You'll travel through XNUMX centuries of Saint-Chef's history and witness the various construction periods of one of the region's most important medieval abbeys.
A 3D reconstruction will allow you to discover one of the most beautiful treasures of Romanesque art: the frescoes of the upper chapel of the abbey church.
These 12th century Romanesque frescoes are unique in France.
You will end your trip by discovering a very rich local heritage through viticulture and rammed earth construction.
Other rooms are dedicated to the town's illustrious figures:
– Frédéric Dard, alias San Antonio, buried in the cemetery of Saint-Chef, his beloved town, with the only public collection of the most widely read writer of the 20th century, his career but also his novels, his desk and his typewriter.
– The actors and actresses of the Seigner family, including Louis,
– The writer Marius Rolliet.
The Saint-Chef Museum offers a fun, varied and accessible visitor experience, located on the Balcons du Dauphiné, less than an hour from Lyon.
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Themes
Location details
A43 exit n°7 "Isle d'Abeau center"
Follow Morestel then Saint-Chef
- In the countryside
- Village center
Visit
Language(s) of the visit
Individual visit services
- Unguided individual tours permanently
- Guided individual tours on request
Group visit services
- Unguided group tours permanently
- Guided group tours on request
Opening
From 01/04 to 25/10/2026, open Tuesdays and Sundays from 14pm to 17:45pm. Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 9:30am to 12pm and from 14pm to 17:45pm. Closed on Mondays and public holidays.
Exceptional closures on Easter Monday, Ascension Thursday, Pentecost Monday, May 1, May 8, July 14 and August 15.
Exceptional Closure(s)
- 06/04/2026
- 14/05/2026
- 25/05/2026
- 01/05/2026
- 08/05/2026
- 14/07/2026
- 15/08/2026
Prices
Free entry. Guided tour of the museum possible: €5 per person, upon prior reservation.
Payment methods
Services
Equipment
Services
Activities on site
- Manual workshops
- Temporary exhibitions
- Animation
- Children's entertainment
Home animals
Accessible tourism
Linked offers
On site:
Exposition temporaire : Vitis Vinifera, de la vigne au vin, au musée de Saint-Chef
Free
July 03 - October 25 , 2026
Journées Européennes du Patrimoine : escape game « Le secret de la page blanche » au musée de Saint-Chef
Free
September 19 , 2026
Journées Européennes du Patrimoine : visite commentée de l’église abbatiale de Saint-Chef, entre légendes et travaux
Free
September 19 , 2026
Journées Européennes du Patrimoine : visite animée « Sur les pas des illustres » à Saint-Chef
Free
September 19 , 2026
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