Musée Paul Charnoz
A tile factory museum with two giant rose designs made for the Paris World's Fairs of 1889 and 1900.
- Museum
- 1 h 20 from Beaune
- Allow about 1 hour
- Paray-le-Monial
€290one way from Beaune with a private driver
At a glance
- Official website
- museepaulcharnoz.com
Getting there
Private driver from Beaune: 1 h 20 by road (110 km), €290 one way for the whole car.
Coming by train or plane? Transfers from stations and airports →
About the place
The Musée Paul Charnoz occupies the former lodge and workers' housing of a ceramic tile factory near the station of Paray-le-Monial. Guides from the association that runs it tell the story of the factory, from its founding in 1877 to its closure at the end of 2005. Its highlights are two monumental tile works shown at the Paris World's Fairs of 1889 and 1900.
What you will see
Guides explain the technique of inlaid stoneware tiles, for which the museum now holds the know-how, with machines and documents from the factory. The two rose designs, of 21.4 and 122 square metres, are protected as historic monuments, and their patterns are built entirely from small coloured tiles. Other rooms follow the later history of the firm, from screen-printed tiles to the Cerabati workers' housing estate, the subject of a space opened in 2026.
History
Paul Charnoz, born in Metz in 1845, had worked for the Boch ceramics company in Dresden and in northern France before he bought a long strip of land between the railway and the canal at Paray. His factory, founded in 1877, made stoneware floor tiles whose pattern was inlaid through the body of the tile, so that it could not wear away. At the Paris World's Fair of 1889, his firm won a gold medal for a rose of coloured tiles.
The firm went bankrupt in 1890 and was bought in 1891 by a group of leading French ceramic makers, with Charnoz staying on as director until 1901. For the World's Fair of 1900 he made a far larger rose, of 122 square metres, which was honoured hors concours. The factory later belonged to the Cerabati group, from 1921 to 1992, and ended as Paray Céramiques, which closed at the end of 2005.
Planning your visit
Tips for your visit
The museum opens only in July and August, and on Easter Monday and Ascension Day. The rest of the year, visits are guided only, for groups of at least six adults, booked through the Paray-le-Monial tourist office at least six days ahead; in 2026 they cost €5 per person, free for under-15s. It stands at the top of the avenue de la Gare, near the station. On foot from the tourist office, follow the golden studs of the Chimère trail set in the pavement.
Around here
What to combine with Musée Paul Charnoz on the same day, nearest first.
Questions
Musée Paul Charnoz is about 1 h 20 from Beaune by road (110 km). With a private driver, the trip from Beaune starts at €290 for the whole car, up to 4 guests.
Did you know? The rose of 1900, at 122 square metres, is almost six times the size of the one that won a gold medal in 1889.
Sources
Musée Paul Charnoz with a private driver
€290 one way from Beaune · up to 4 guests