A space dedicated to art and
leather know-how
Transmission, innovation, excellence: Cité du Cuir embodies these values through an immersive journey, exhibitions and creative workshops. This place highlights the ancestral know-how and modernity of leather, a material that has inspired generations of artisans and artists. Dive into the heart of a unique place where leather reveals itself in all its richness and timelessness!
The role of Cité du Cuir
The Cité du Cuir is born of a dual will: to preserve and value a remarkable industrial and artisanal heritage, while transmitting it to future generations. Its mission is to bring this know-how across regional and national borders, by becoming a marker of excellence and an attractive lever for the territory, thus proving the place of leather in the contemporary world.
What you can discover there
A permanent immersive journey
Upon arrival, the visitor will be given an extra-early helmet, which will deliver to him visitor content. Then begins a multi-sensory experience that demonstrations of professionals, especially for the cutting and sewing phases, significant in the glovery, will complete.
Discover the fascinating world of leather glove! From the mégisserie of Dantan to the boutique inspired by the 1920s-1930s, each stage plunges you into the history and gestures that shape this unique know-how. Explore an impressive collection of 4000 models of gloves, tools and machines that have marked past generations, all in an immersive setting that invites you to experience an interactive sensory experience in the heart of craftsmanship.
Dyeing
Discover the art of colouring and its evolution through the centuries. An interactive game allows you to learn the delicate dosing process, an essential step in the dyeing of leather.
Dryer
Generally located in the attic of the factory, the dryer is a quiet space, away from the agitation of the machines. He invites to a moment of tranquility and contemplation, offering a break in the manufacturing process.
Cookery and finishing
Explore leather through a sensory experience, discovering this living and sometimes surprising material. Among the treasures exhibited, exotic skins are presented integer and accessible, providing a unique overview of this precious resource.
City square and its department store
Stroll in a city decor of Dantan, where a window reveals a glove at work, paid to the task. Push the door of a boutique inspired by the 1920s-1930s, the Glove Conservatory, where 500 models of gloves are displayed.
Leather gallery
A captivating space dedicated to leather, highlighting its many applications, from fashion to industry. Discover the evolution of design through iconic pieces and everyday objects: saddlery, luggage storage, furniture, luminaires, and much more. Innovations yesterday and today reveal the richness of this timeless material.
The Cité du Cuir It's more than a museum!
Creative workshops
The Cité du Cuir offers creative workshops, accessible to all, to explore local leather and know-how. Driven by the team and artisans, these moments of cultural mediation allow you to discover and appreciate the crafts while awakening your creativity.
A production workshop
This workspace is equipped with a complete tool park, including a high quality slitter, often inaccessible to many artisans. Designed as a living and shared place, the workshop will serve as a meeting point for professionals, students, visual artists, designers and other creators.
A documentation centre
The Cité du Cuir preserves and enhances the archives of the industry: sketches, prototypes, models and photographs submitted by local companies and gantries. These unique documents, integrated with exhibitions or available on-site, are valuable resources for research and creation.
Temporary exhibitions
Dive into the heart of various universes thanks to our temporary exhibitions! They enrich the museum's experience by exploring new themes, highlighting know-how or hosting events dedicated to the leather industry. For this, the Cité du Cuir has a modular room of 120 m2, offering a dynamic space and adaptable to the most inspiring projects.
Team Cité du Cuir
Directorate
Anaïs Delage, Director
Communication
Juliette Guillemot, Communications Officer
Public sector
Sandra Denichoux-Combeau, Reference shop and reception
Géraldine Gouju, Cultural Mediation Officer
Charlotte VENLA, Home Agent
Clemence PETIT, Cultural Mediation Officer
Collections and exhibitions
Blandine Lamy, Collection Officer
Jérémy Tricart, Collection Assistant, leather reference
Our institutional partners
The Cité du Cuir is an achievement of the Communauté de Communes Porte Océane du Limousin, with the support of many institutional partners. Their commitment helps bring out this ambitious project, dedicated to the transmission and enhancement of exceptional know-how.
