The Resistance Museum

Mussy-sur-Seine is a pretty little village about 20 minutes drive from us. It has a small local market under the covered market building in the centre of the village every Thursday. Great place to buy the local soft cheese from, or fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, fish and last time we went there was a very nice patisserie stall. All really fresh.

However the really interesting thing about Mussy is it’s history. I find that the local history, about how the resistance movement fought to protect France in this area, fascinating. When we first visited Mussy we were lucky enough to be some of the last people who got to see inside the old resistance museum – which traces the history of the Maquis Mussy-Grancey, also known as the Maquis Montcalm. I will share more on this in a later blog.

The Resistance Museum at Mussy-sur-Seine was unique in the department of Aube and the Grand-Est region, and was classified as part of a network of museums called the ‘Museums of France on the Resistance’, which means they have the support of the Ministry of Culture. It was a small museum with a unique local collection of information and physical objects donated by the resisters and their families, who experienced the delicate and dangerous times of occupied France. But it also provided a balanced view of pro- and anti-propaganda.

When we visited we were fortunate to have a presentation from a local resident who had lived through the war in the area as a young boy, and I remember him telling us that his mother used to have a very large map of France and the local area on one of their walls, which she used to have pins in that she moved around. I think at the time he thought she had it as a display item, but later realised there was probably more to it than that.

The museum closed its doors a few years ago, with the plan to renovate and relaunch as a more interactive, modern museum, but also keeping some of the old displays for added atmosphere.

Things have not gone according to plan. Obviously there has been some unprecedented delays due to the current situation. But the exciting thing is they have the funding to do the work, and are in the process of rebuilding. I can’t wait to visit it again when it’s completed.

Look at that beautiful blue sky, photo taken by Brian today.