Our history
A passion that began in 2017-2018
‘One day, I got my hands on a hat. I was very intrigued and curious to find out how our ancestors had done it’.
Joël, who is passionate about history and period objects, started collecting at the end of 2017/beginning of 2018. He hunted mainly on Leboncoin, but also received donations from private individuals. At the time, his aim was simple: to offer these objects for hire, particularly for events or historical re-enactments.
A fascinating era to relive
The Belle Époque: between tradition, progress and elegance.
The collection focuses on the period from 1890 to 1940, a time marked by progress, a refined art of living and charming everyday objects. Joël quickly realised that this period needed to be shared, told and passed on.
It was around 2022 that the project took a new turn: the museum came into being. For more than 7 years, Joël has been doing his best, with passion, to bring this period to life in his region (Pays de la Loire).
The start of research,
and the initial project.
The museum is constantly evolving.
2017
2022
2025
Layout of the courtyard,
the beginning of the museum.
A museum on a human scale... and one of a kind
Highlights include a life-size wooden horse, complete outfits and forgotten tools.
But what makes the museum truly unique is Joël himself: a passionate enthusiast who loves to pass on stories and anecdotes, and help visitors discover an era that only our grandparents knew.
Every day, Joël continues his research to unearth new rare and authentic items. The museum is constantly evolving, with regular refurbishments carried out directly in his own home, with the aim of offering ever more spaces to discover and bringing this era to life in an even more immersive way.
I had the idea of putting some of them in my courtyard to display.
A private museum, but open to all
La Belle Époque is a private museum: it is not dependent on any local authority or public funds. It is a personal and independent initiative, born of passion.
But that doesn't mean it's closed - quite the contrary!
The museum is open to the public by reservation only. This allows us to offer personalised, friendly tours, far removed from the crowds and hustle and bustle of traditional museums.