White Coal Museum
With the G-PASS, get 10% off in the museum shop !
In the heart of the Alps, at the foot of the Belledonne massif in Villard-Bonnot, the museum recalls the birth of hydroelectricity and pays tribute to the men and women involved in this adventure, the source of major technological and economic development. Housed in the Art Nouveau home of the innovative engineer Aristide Bergès, this exceptional place of remembrance subtly blends art and industry.
The G-PASS offer:
- Bonus for G-PASS holders: 10% discount on purchases in the museum store on presentation of your G-PASS
- The Maison Bergès - Museum Houille blanche is part of the network of 11 museums of the Département de l'Isère, and is free to all.
Opening hours
Closed exceptionally on January 1st, May 1st and December 25th.
Accessibility
- Assistance dog
Access conditions
-
Public transport
Train Gare de Lancey
- Animal
Brick Hydro. From water to electricity
From 28 April to 20 September 2026
Free
A fun exhibition where families can immerse themselves in the world of hydroelectric power and learn how it works through Lego models and technical exhibits, colourful illustrations and vintage photographs... Something for both children and adults to discover!
This exhibition was launched to mark the centenary of the 1925 International Exhibition of White Coal and Tourism, celebrating the birth and development of hydroelectricity, which fuelled the economic boom in the Grenoble region. Organised in partnership with EDF, it has been extended until Heritage Days 2026, as part of the cultural season “Water, what a story!”
Maison Bergès invites you to trace the history of hydroelectricity, a revolutionary form of energy born in the 19th century thanks to the ingenuity of a few pioneers, including Aristide Bergès (1833–1904). From the power of mills to the first hydroelectric power stations, discover how the energy of water is transformed into hydroelectricity, paving the way for a new industrial era.
Penstocks, turbines, dams, dynamos, alternators, power stations, transformers... all essential for generating and transmitting electricity right into our homes! These machines and buildings will hold no more secrets for you!
Maison Bergès- Musée de la Houille Blanche
40 Avenue des Papeteries
38190 Villard-Bonnot
04 38 92 19 60
maison-berges@isere.fr