The first Museum in the Streets installation opened in 1995 in the village of Pontlevoy. Situated in the Loire Valley, near the famous chateaux Chenonceau and Chambord, Pontlevoy's history dates back to prehistoric times. During the Napoleonic era, a nationally acclaimed school for boys was opened in Pontlevoy's historic abbey. The school brought many wealthy families to the town in the 19th century who built bourgeois homes and whose presence helped launch a number of village commerces. Today the school is being used again by a consortium of American universities for study-abroad programs.

The town's archives are particularly rich thanks to the work of local photographer Louis Clergeau, whose meticulous documentation of early 20th century daily life is an invaluable resource. His wonderful images are featured on almost every panel in town.

Pontlevoy is one of the towns along on the Châteaux à Vélo bike-route through the valley. These paths for cyclists meander through the historic Loire Valley and include many stops in towns with a Museum in the Streets.

To see a map of those installations, CLICK HERE

 

The Museum in the Streets details:

• installed in 1995
• 30 panels
• second language, English