A Frenchman near Lyon started a collection of antique motorised vehicles, and after purchasing a Chateau to display them in, opened to the public in 1960.

Le Chateau de Rochetaille-sur-Soane was built in the 12th Century, damaged over time and rebuilt and modified in 1904, and purchased in 1959 by Henri Malatre to display his collection.

The collection is primarily vehicles made in or around Lyon, a City once famous for car constructors that have now disappeared, such as Rochet-Schneider, Luc Court and Berliet.

It does include some original vehicles, a Fort Model T, the Popemobile used during the Popes visit to Lyon, Adolf Hitler’s staff car from 1945, and various famous racing cars.

  • The Chateau
  • The Model T Ford was the most produced vehicle in the world (16.5 million) with assembly starting in 1908 in Detroit.
  • La Papamobile was used by Pope John Paul II during his visit to Lyon in October 1986. The vehicle was adapted to allow the Pope to salute his people.
  • Mercedes built 44 armoured cars for Hitler during 1939 and 1944. This particular car was seized by troops in May 1945.
  • One of the first funicular cars from the Fouviere funicular.