The Textile and Horn Comb Museum

The Musée du Textile et du Peigne en Corne de Lavelanet (Lavelanet Textile and Horn Comb Museum) presents the different stages in the manufacture of cloth and horn combs in the preserved atmosphere of one of the town’s 1st cloth factories. The visit is well worth the detour, an invitation to travel to the heart of materials and eras, from the Middle Ages to the 21st century.

Charlotte tells...

I'd been meaning to visit the textile and horn comb museum in Lavelanet for a long time. It's a must-see in the Cathar Pyrenees, and many people recommended it to me.
I took advantage of a day when the weather was rainy and my 7-year-old daughter and I were feeling restless to push open the doors of the great building... And we were not disappointed!

A nice visit

for young and old

The museum’s exterior, with its imposing ten-meter-high chimney, reminds us that we’re in front of a former Lavelanet textile factory. Located by the river, just a stone’s throw from the town center, it’s now a beautifully restored building with white walls and large glass windows.

Once inside, the tour is explained, and we are given documentation on the two themes of textile work and horn combs.

We begin our tour in the company of a guide, and are captivated by the clear explanations of the history of the country and its industrial heritage. The comments are punctuated by demonstrations using hand tools or machines, and by the screening of documentary films, which perfectly punctuates the visit.

Our friendly guide gave us a demonstration of hand-spinning with a spindle. It’s really amazing! My daughter’s eyes widened as she watched her confident movements transform wool into thread at breakneck speed.

Art and

the way

In the end, the two-hour tour flew by. The balance between explanations and demonstrations was perfect to keep my daughter’s attention. Our guide found the right words to tell us the fascinating story of the work and life of the men who lived in the area. We also really enjoyed seeing the precise gestures involved in transforming raw materials.

After thanking our guide, we wandered around the store, which is full of local products. I snapped up a little horn comb for my daughter. She was delighted!

That was our great afternoon over, and we promise to return soon to take part in one of the many workshops offered by the museum.

We recommend

To learn about the history of textile manufacturing, and that’s not a trivial souvenir to recount on your return from vacation 😊
To see demonstrations of old-fashioned machines that still work.
For its rich program of workshops, demonstrations and events put on by passionate men and women.

Practical information

Address

6 rue Jean Canal, Lavelanet

Prices