Électrodrome

Set in an industrial building, the Electrodrome conservatory presents the history of electrification. Its guides recount the genesis of the many objects in the museum and describe the impact on daily life when the Electricity Fairy arrived in one of France's first electrified villages.

Twenty minutes from Vichy, the village of Magnet, home to the ELECTRODROME, was chosen for two national experiments, in 1939 and 1952. The loan of household appliances and electrified mechanical aids for farmers and craftsmen demonstrated the economic importance of increasing electricity consumption as a driving force in rural areas. The results of these experiments provided conclusive information that led to the expansion and densification of the network and lines. The first household art fairs established the use of electricity in everyday life, in both town and country. Electricity has become a cornerstone of modern civilization.

As the only industrial archaeology center dedicated to the history of rural electrification in Central France, the conservatory retraces this evolution and raises awareness of the progress made over the last century. Over 1,500 objects and electrical appliances are on display, some of them quite unusual. The oldest date from the 1860s, the most recent from the 1980s (end of the Trente Glorieuses). The appliances are grouped into different themes: household appliances, sound and image broadcasting, lighting, measuring electricity consumption, medical devices, and technological applications for agriculture and crafts. A ninth theme has just been finalized to complete the collections. It includes printing and office equipment, as well as early examples of computer hardware. Last but not least, the highlight of the collection devoted to an industrial archaeology focused on electricity is the large Sulzer/Gramme generator built in 1932. Free access to the library allows on-site consultation.

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