Saint-Chef Museum

Museum

© Office de Tourisme des Balcons du Dauphiné

2 Rue du Seigneur de By
38890 Saint-Chef

Located in the heart of the village, in a 16th-century house, the museum retraces almost 15 centuries of Saint-Chef's history: the origins of the abbey, the interpretation of the Romanesque frescoes in the church, local traditions, Louis Seigner and Frédéric Dard.

In the heart of the village of Saint-Chef, less than an hour from Lyon in the Balcons du Dauphiné, the museum is the place to go to discover the cultural wealth of the area.

Housed in the former residence of the Seigneur de By, the collections are divided into two large themed rooms.

The history of the village begins in the 6th century with the creation of a hermitage. Take a journey through the 15 centuries of Saint-Chef's history.

The tour continues through the old stones, witness to the different constructions of one of the most important abbeys of the Middle Ages in the region.
Thanks to a 3D reconstruction, you'll discover one of the finest treasures of Romanesque art: the frescoes in the upper chapel of the abbey church.

Finally, you'll round off your trip by discovering the rich local heritage of winegrowing and adobe construction.

Other rooms are dedicated to Saint-Chef's illustrious characters. These include the writer Marius Rolliet, the actors and actresses of the Seigner family, and above all Frédéric Dard, alias San Antonio.
You'll find the only public collection of the most widely-read writer of the 20th century, including his life story, his novels, his desk and his typewriter.

The Saint-Chef museum offers a fun and varied way to explore the town, suitable for everyone.