Maison de l'Outil et de la Pensee Ouvriere

About

Created mostly by Paul Feller s.j., a forward-looking Jesuit priest, the Maison de l'Outil et de la Pensée Ouvrière (MOPO) is dedicated to the passing on of knowledge and the promotion of apprenticeship. The museum boasts a collection of more than 12 000 tools showcased in 65 display cases in a remarkable scenography. The contemporary power of the scenography adds to the story and power of each tool, painstakingly brought back to life. The resource center, free of access, holds more than 32 000 old and contemporary reference books and constitutes France’s second-largest technical library. More than a beautiful object, a tool carries a man’s life-story, a story of craftsmanship and culture. It is essential for the observer, the collector or the visitor at the MOPO to reflect on the person who was behind that tool, even before asking about the tool’s purpose.

At a glance

• Typical visit: about 1 hour 30 minutes