Basketry Museum Tour

Step into the fascinating world of basketry, an ancestral craft involving the weaving of plant fibres to create objects. A source of great local pride, this activity played a central role in the lives of Cadenet’s inhabitants during the 19th and 20th centuries. In 1906, no fewer than 206 basketmakers were recorded in the village, which had a population of just 2,000! Founded in 1988, the Basketry Museum occupies the former premises of the “La Glaneuse” basket-making workshop. Today, it houses an exceptional and constantly evolving collection, enriched over the years thanks to the generosity of Cadenet’s residents, many of whom have a personal or family connection with a basket-making workshop. **What you will discover:** More than 1,000 woven objects from the local area and around the world, including baskets, hats, furniture and decorative items. An insight into traditional workshop techniques and tools, including billhooks, secateurs, moulds and other period instruments. Rare testimonies, with audio and video recordings of former Provençal basketmakers. An introduction to the raw materials used around the world, including willow, rattan, bamboo, chestnut and even plastic. And that is not all: craft workshops for both children and adults will be organised throughout the year. It is the perfect opportunity to try your hand at basketry and take home your own creation. A living museum deeply rooted in its local heritage, not to be missed by anyone interested in traditional skills, heritage, craftsmanship and local history.