Are you visiting the pretty town of Saumur? Visit the Mushroom Museum! Diving into the heart of more than 250 species of mushrooms, the permanent exhibition revealed all the secrets of this curious natural phenomenon. A fun and exciting exploration of a superb troglodyte site!
Here are some useful tips for planning your visit to the Musée du Champignon in Saumur.
This guide is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
Is a visit to the Mushroom Museum worthwhile?
Yes, the museum is well worth a visit. Just a short drive from downtown Saumur, this museum will amaze you with its impressive, one-of-a-kind collection. As we made our way through the troglodyte galleries, we learned all about the biology, cultivation and use of mushrooms. The tour is also fun! The educational mushroom farm will appeal to young and old alike.
It's one of the city's best museums and one of the region's must-see troglodyte activities!
What you can see
A unique troglodyte site
The Mushroom Museum is housed in a cave dug into the rock by troglodytes! We enjoyed entering this mysterious site.
Information on mushroom picking
At the start of the tour, we learned a great deal about mushroom picking and saw some wild specimens.
Witches' circles
We admired the mysterious witches' circles, the surprising circles of mushrooms sometimes found in forests.
Well-known wild mushrooms
Hydnes, girolles, boletes, ceps and sheep's feet. Find out all there is to know about these wild mushrooms that are often found on our plates.
Mushrooms in astonishing colors
Some mushrooms surprised us with their color! This was the case with these blue feet, which are also edible.
Poisonous mushrooms
We were impressed by the famous and highly toxic red fly agaric with white polka dots, which looked deceptively harmless in its display case!
Funny mushrooms
Mushrooms take on surprising shapes! We loved the coral amanita and the hedgehog mushroom.
Amazing mushroom beds
The museum grows a myriad of mushrooms. We were intrigued by all the unusual shapes and colors of these crops.
A little exoticism
The site also features mushroom cultures from other continents. The Asian Ganoderma, widely used in China, caught our eye.
Part of the museum is dedicated to the common but delicious button mushroom!
A mushroom workshop
In the middle of the mushroom section, we collected all the ingredients we needed to grow our own mushrooms in a small bag!
A fresh mushroom store
Our visit ended at the museum store, a place filled with fresh mushrooms and culinary treasures made from this highly tasty food.
The Mushroom Museum in Saumur: how to find us
Where to find the museum
- In the town of Saumur, 10 minutes from downtown by car
- 100m from the Pierre et Lumière miniature park
- 1 hour from Tours andAngers
- Here's a map of Saumur's best museums to help you find your way around:
Access by car and parking
The museum is easily accessible by car. Take the A85 and A87 freeways towards Saumur. From Saumur, follow Gennes Saint-Hilaire-Saint-Florent D751. You can park in the on-site parking lot, located right next to the entrance.
OUR TIPS FOR RENTING A CAR IN Loire
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars - one of the best rated sites.
- Choose a fairly compact car (many villages have narrowed the road).
- Think aboutfull insurance (parking in big cities is really tight).
- There is a lot of demand, book it early.
Public transport access
A public transport network exists, but you'll be limited in terms of timetables. The car remains one of the most comfortable means of accessing the area. Would you like to rent a car in the region? Here's our dedicated article.
Cycling is also an attractive option. Read our article on La Loire à vélo, it will inspire you!
Visiting difficulties
A troglodyte park, the ground is sometimes uneven and some passages narrow. You'll have to travel beneath darkened underground galleries. We do not recommend this activity if you suffer from claustrophobia. If you're chilly, bring a sweater with you, as the temperature in the cellars is low.
DISCOVER Saumur
- Best things to do in Saumur
- Where to sleep in Saumur: best hotels
- Where to eat in Saumur: best restaurants
- Visit the Château de Saumur
- Visit Fontevraud Abbey
- The most beautiful castles around Saumur
- Saumur's troglodytes
- itineraries: weekend
Visit the Mushroom Museum: useful tips
Schedules and prices
The museum is open from 10am to 6pm in February, March, October and November, and from 10am to 7pm from April to September.
The full price is €9. Combined ticket options are available with the Musée du Champignon and/or the Jardin du Puygirault. Find out more here.
How long
Allow 1h to 1h30 to visit the museum.
Best moment
In summer, the site is even more popular. If you decide to visit the city and the museum at this time of year, choose the mornings for a more exclusive tour. In winter, there will be fewer visitors. In fact, why not take advantage of the low season? Discover all there is to do in Saumur in winter!
Direction of visit
When you visit, simply follow the path cut into the rock. After passing the troglodytic house filled with small mushroom sculptures, head deeper underground into the wild mushroom section. The tunnel then guides you to the mushroom farm, where we discovered cultures of hundreds of mushrooms! Finally, round off your visit with a trip to the boutique and indulge in some fresh mushrooms to cook up later, just like we did!
Visiting with children
This is a great museum to visit with the whole family. Discovering the secrets of mushrooms and burrowing into caves can be a fun activity for youngsters. The site offers manual workshops. Young and old alike can dip their hands in the soil to grow their own mushrooms. We loved following the process step by step.
Eating out
For lunch, there's a picnic area on site. Otherwise, you'll have to head for downtown Saumur, home to a number of fine restaurants. Discover our selection of the best restaurants (article coming soon).
Hotels
You'll find the right hotel in Saumur, just a few minutes from the park. Take a look at our selection here and let yourself be tempted!
- Extend your troglodyte experience with atypical accommodations like the Hôtel Logis Demeure de la Vignole, with its underground swimming pool! See prices and availability.
- Opt for a prestigious stay in the beautiful Spa-Hôtel Château La Marquise. Book a room now!
WHERE TO STAY IN Saumur
Downtown
Enjoy the city, its restaurants and beautiful architecture.
- Hotel Saint Pierre - a historic stay! - see prices, pictures and availability
- Hotel Château La Marquise - prices, pictures and availability
- Hotel Anne d'Anjou - prices, pictures and availability
In the countryside around
Looking for a bit of peace and quiet, without straying too far from the city of Angers? Here's our suggestion:
- Hotel Demeure de la Vignole - prices, pictures and availability
- Hotel Joly Foudres - unusual in barrels - prices, pictures and availability
- Hotel de l'abbaye de Fontevraud - prices, pictures and availability
PLAN YOUR TRIP IN
Loire Valley
The castles of the Loire Valley
Other places to explore
Practice
HE MADE THE TRIP Manu
