collections
Musée du Paysan Gascon
An immersive journey into the rural memory of the Gers
Located in the heart of the Gers, in the village of Toujouse, the Musée du Paysan Gascon preserves and showcases over 5,000 objects that bear witness to rural life in days gone by. These collections tell, with strength and authenticity, the everyday lives of the women and men who shaped this land of deep-rooted traditions.
Through a covered and fully accessible trail, visitors are immersed in traditional craftsmanship, vine cultivation, the history of farming, and the intimate world of Gascon homes. Each space recreates an atmosphere, a gesture, a voice from the past.
More than just a visit, it’s a true immersion into local heritage.
Farming, harvesting, and distilling in Bas-Armagnac
The farming world
Farming holds a central place in the museum’s collections. The displays showcase tools and machinery used in various agricultural tasks: cereal cultivation and harvesting, livestock farming, haymaking, and more.
A significant focus is also given to the vine, winemaking, and the distillation of Armagnac – a true symbol of this Gers terroir. You’ll find presses (including the iconic 1823 taisson press), barrels, vats, casks, and the Armagnac still — all bearing witness to a know-how still very much alive in the surrounding countryside.
A modest dwelling with walls of earth and wood
The farm labourer’s house
This house was used to accommodate the brassier, an agricultural labourer who hired out his labour by the season or by the task. At the bottom of the social ladder, he owned almost nothing — not even a roof over his head. This wattle-and-daub and timber-framed dwelling recreates a humble and moving atmosphere, where the essentials held all the meaning.
Skills passed down from generation to generation
The artisans’ workshops
Each trade represented here reflects an ancestral know-how, once essential to life in the Gers countryside:
– The foresters: lumberjack, haulier, or pit sawyer
– The blacksmith, with sparks flying from the anvil
– The clog maker, shaping each shoe by hand
– The weaver, master of the handloom
– The cooper, a pillar of Armagnac culture
– The joiner and carpenter, builders of everyday life
These reconstructed workshops help visitors better understand these trades — and even observe the skills in action during summer demonstrations.
Gascon elegance in the 19th century
The manor house
Stepping through the door of the manor house, built around 1850, you’ll discover another side of Gers heritage: that of rural bourgeois families. Fine wooden furniture, embroidered linens, decorative objects, and period portraits — everything here evokes comfort, stability, and a deep connection to the land.
A visit in sharp contrast to the farm labourer’s house, offering a deeper understanding of the social diversity of rural life in Gascony.
A culture still alive
Between traditions, transmission, and the Occitan language
The Musée du Paysan Gascon doesn’t freeze the past — it brings it to life. Throughout the year, activities invite visitors of all ages to take part in workshops, meet artisans, attend Gascon evenings, traditional dances, or polyphonic concerts.
Each year, a temporary exhibition adds to the museum’s remarkable collections and events. In 2025, it is dedicated to the history of the John Deere brand, a symbol of agricultural machinery, showcased through 1:16 scale models from the Jean-Honoré Vercauteren collection.
