Valréas in Provence is called the capital of the French cardboard-box industry. This began due to the need for perforated boxes for silkworms. From the mid-nineteenth century it brought together the local traditions of both cardboard making and printing. The industry produced attractive printed boxes for diverse products all over France.
This museum traces the methods of making and printing cardboard boxes from the mid-nineteenth century to the present day. Volunteers started to collect artefacts for future display in 1952, and in 1984 the Département Vaucluse acquired an old factory close to the town centre for the museum. The route around the museum traces the processes –making card, folding boxes, typography and lithography. There are preserved workshops and displays of printing machines, colourful period advertisements and many beautiful boxes: for perfumery, face powder, pharmaceuticals, jewellery and confectionery; for presenting wine bottles and of course for silk.
Museum of Cardboard and Printing
Musée du Cartonnage et de l'imprimerie
3 Avenue Maréchal Foch
84600 Valréas
France
+33 (0) 490 - 355875
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