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HOME SWEET HOME!

What if time travel were possible? Admit that it would make you dream. Well, in Villard de Lans, all you have to do is step through the doors of the Maison du Patrimoine to discover the rich history of this area. Meet Sophie, Head of the Maison du Patrimoine, to find out what goes on behind the scenes.

Published on 28 April 2023

Welcome home

Custodian since 2017, Sophie Lemonnier welcomes visitors to the house with a permanent exhibition on the history of the canton of Les 4 montagnes. Farming and forestry, sport, air conditioning and mountain tourism, everyday objects… will arouse your curiosity!

Her core business is to design exhibitions to make them as exciting and accessible as possible for everyone. Thanks to her work, this house comes alive with the rhythm of guided tours, self-guided tours, school or group visits.

But Sophie’s favourite part of her job is promoting local heritage through unusual or unexpected themes. Dusting off what can be dusted off. To highlight the nuggets of Vercors history.
For example, the next exhibition will tell the story of Abbé Ravaud, a botanist who lived on the plateau in the early 20th century. So, flora lovers, look forward to seeing you this summer!

Another facet of Sophie’s job is the conservation of collections. All in all, she makes an inventory of more than 6,000 objects: photos, documents, artefacts. A real collector of memories!

    This building is essential from an urban planning point of view, as it is at the centre of the village, and the square built directly in front of it has become the village’s meeting place.

      Make a long story short

      The history of the Maison du Patrimoine? Quite a story. But to make a long story short, Sophie tells us that this house was built in 1888 on the Place de la Libération. A meeting place and commercial centre, the building was intended to be the town hall for the village. When it became too small to accommodate all the municipal services, the town hall was transformed into a museum thanks to the efforts of Jacques Lamoure, who was passionate about the history of his town and the Quatre-Montagnes region.
      Visitors to this historic site enjoy being taken back to the past and letting their imagination dream of another time.

      “We all love being taken back to the past and the history of our grandparents.
      The little ones love the top floor because you can see the objects used in everyday life at the time.

      Over-the-ear headphones for  take an express ticket to the past

      There's no place like home

      Sophie and her family settled in Villard de Lans more than 10 years ago. A native of Dauphiné, Sophie has never been far from the Vercors. She studied in Grenoble. Sophie is called to the mountains every weekend for outdoor activities, and has a particular affection for the Vercors.

      “I’ve always been into the mountains and my outdoor activities always revolved around the mountains. “

      Living in Seyssins for many years, the winter season was dedicated to cross-country skiing. So she and her husband Olivier decided to move on. And to moor here. It was then that Sophie’s career began to take off. For his part, Olivier established himself on the tourist scene by becoming manager of the Glisse and Velectrip shop in Bois Barbu.

      “We feel really good in the Vercors! There’s a real attraction and attachment to this area, which I don’t know how to express. “

      Sensitive to heritage but not only. It’s the high mountain peaks with their mountaineering flair and the gentle rolling landscapes that have captured Sophie’s heart. It’s true that the variety of landscapes in the Vercors massif is a real feast for the eyes. So why deprive yourself!

        I tell myself that you don’t necessarily need to go anywhere other than the Vercors. I think it’s a great place for all these reasons, as well as for the richness of its people and landscape. You meet a lot of people who like it here, which makes it a richer place to live.

        Vertaco Council

        “We offer cultural mediation around the exhibitions. We offer a range of workshops for children and adults. We also organise outdoor activities, such as participatory frescoes and botanical walks with mountain guides. It’s a great opportunity to come and discover them at weekends and during the holidays! “

        To find out more