La Boisserie

Part two of a series of three blogs.

One of the first exhibits inside the museum describes Charles de Gaulle as a family man. Charles and his wife, Yvonne de Gaulle, had three children Philippe, Élisabeth and Anne. He adored all his children, but had a special place in his affection for little Anne, who was born with Down’s syndrome. He was extremely protective of her, and her needs helped him chose what they needed from a home.

The little museum displays help you imagine the children’s rooms. As you walk into the display, an audio of a child’s lullaby starts playing, perfectly setting the scene. In fact, much of the museums beauty is that it conjures different atmospheres and evokes emotional responses.

You are able to use audio guides around the museum, which are translated into many languages, but we chose to read the many informative cards, which are in French, English and German situated either within or near the exhibits. The one below describes Charles de Gaulle purchasing La Boisserie, and how it became his family home.

Beyond the museum, Just a short drive into the little village of Colombey deux églises, you can visit La Boisserie. It’s a beautiful old, stone house, covered in creepers, that when we visited were just about to change into a brilliant red for autumn. The downstairs rooms have been left as they were when the family lived there. You can feel the stateliness of the rooms, and how they would have been used to receive VIP’s and statesmen from all over the world, as well as the warmth of family life.

In the museum they have also created some beautiful 3D cut-outs, displaying some local scenes. One is of the church, where Charles de Gaulle is now buried, alongside some of his family.

Such a wonderful day out, and so much to learn.