Cite Du Cuir Saint Junien EntranceCite Du Cuir Saint Junien Entrance
©Cite Du Cuir Saint Junien Entrance|Manza Studio
Leather museumImmerse yourself in the glove-making tradition of Limousin.
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Leather museum

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In Saint-Junien, leather is much more than just a material – it’s part of the local DNA 🧤. With the leather museum “Cité du Cuir”, the town is putting the spotlight on a unique and ancestral know-how. This unique site in France invites visitors to plunge into the world of French leather and top-of-the-range glove-making. An immersive tour reveals the precise movements of the glove-makers, the secrets of working the skins and the passion of a region that has made leather its emblem. It’s a must-see in Haute-Vienne, where you can delve into the heart of local know-how and craftsmanship.

Leather under the skin

Since the 1980s, many people have called for a “glove museum” to be set up in Saint-Junien. In 2025, with the leather museum “Cité du cuir”, this desire has finally come to life on the banks of the Vienne! This tourist attraction, the only one of its kind in France, aims to promote the leather and glove-making trades, which are an integral part of the local intangible heritage. The aim is to preserve the ancestral skills of glove-making while supporting the regional leather industry. The site is open to the general public as well as researchers, historians and designers. The museum section enables visitors to understand the leather glove-making process, from the raw hide to the finished product, and will showcase a number of exceptional pieces. 😍

Cite Du Cuir Saint Junien Initiation WorkshopCite Du Cuir Saint Junien Initiation Workshop
©Cite Du Cuir Saint Junien Initiation Workshop|Manza Studio

    Historic expertise in Saint-Junien

    Saint-Junien, Haute-Vienne’s 2nd-largest populated area, designated “Ville et Métiers d’art”, is one of France’s three glove-making centres: 60% of France’s luxury gloves are made in Saint-Junien. Saint-Junien has a long history of working with skins and glove-making, dating back to the late Middle Ages! As a livestock-raising region, raw materials such as goat and lamb skins were abundant, while the presence and quality of the waters of the Vienne river enabled tanning and tannery activities to develop. In the 1920s, the town and thousands of workers made their living from glove-making and tanning. Today, there are only a handful of them, which is why it is so important to preserve the town’s ancestral know-how with the “Cité du Cuir.” This museum has taken up residence on the site of the former “Vaugelade” wool-washing factory, a tannery and a glove factory. A way of bringing this industrial site in Saint-Junien back to life.

    Leather musem : immersion at the heart of know-how

    Spread over 1800m2 in two buildings, the leather museum “Cité du Cuir” takes you on an immersive journey through the ages and trades to discover, step by step, the leather glove manufacturing cycle. Wearing a pair of headphones, you can enjoy a multi-sensory experience in an atmosphere inspired by the workshops and tanneries of the time. The tour is rounded off by demonstrations by professionals, particularly at the cutting and sewing stages. Guided tours, temporary exhibitions and introductory workshops for children and adults keep the site lively all year round. And don’t miss the shop, where you’ll find locally-made leather products as well as other local skills such as the arts of fire, textiles and paper!

    Cite Du Cuir Saint Junien Exterior view Vienne RiverfrontCite Du Cuir Saint Junien Exterior view Vienne Riverfront
    ©Cite Du Cuir Saint Junien Exterior view Vienne Riverfront|Cité du cuir

      A special moment

      Cuir ©tourisme Nouvelle Aquitaine G.villégierCuir ©tourisme Nouvelle Aquitaine G.villégier
      ©Cuir ©tourisme Nouvelle Aquitaine G.villégier
      Visit the leather museum "Cité du cuir"

      A museum dedicated to glove-making expertise: take an immersive tour and discover all the stages involved in making a leather glove.

      Leather museum
      Cite Du Cuir Saint Junien Dinitiation WorkshopCite Du Cuir Saint Junien Dinitiation Workshop
      ©Cite Du Cuir Saint Junien Dinitiation Workshop|Cité du cuir
      Taking part in workshops

      The Cité du cuir offers creative workshops for all ages. These events, led by the team and craftspeople, are the perfect opportunity to find out a little more about leatherworking techniques and, at the same time, take home your own leather souvenir!

      Good to know

      When to visit ?

      The Leather City is open from Wednesday to Sunday all year round and from Tuesday to Sunday in July-August. Visits are possible from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

      Discovery workshops

      The “Cité du Cuir” team and local craftsmen will be leading workshops on leatherwork. They are open to all.

      Accessibility

      The museum tour is suitable for PRMs: optimised ergonomics, an accessibility graphic charter and FALC text have been put in place so that everyone can enjoy the site.

      For professionals

      The “Cité du cuir” is also designed with professionals in mind, with workshops for craftspeople and a documentation centre with books and local archives on the subject.

      Continue your stay in Saint-Junien

      We like

      Immersion

      The immersive, PRM-accessible museum trail 🙌

      The view over the Vienne

      What a pleasure it is to enjoy the view of nature from the various rooms in the “Cité du cuir”! There’s even access to the banks of the Vienne for a stroll to contemplate the landscape.

      Factory outlets

      In Saint-Junien, the Agnelle glove factory and theAtelier Maroquinerie du Limousin – Daguet open their doors to you to discover their creations and why not leave with some beautiful gifts.

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