A museum called "The Adventure of the Puy Lentil," dedicated to the green lentil of Le Puy, will open its doors in May 2026 in the heart of Le Puy-en-Velay. The museum is the brainchild of the Musée de la Lentille Verte du Puy association, founded by Jean René Mestre. Spanning just over 200 square meters, it features several immersive and interactive spaces that highlight the work of lentil producers in the region where they are grown. We spoke with Margo Fau Rousselot, the museum's director.
How did the idea of creating this space dedicated to the green lentil of Le Puy come about?
Margo Fau Rousselot: The project that is being launched today was spearheaded by the Puy Green Lentil Museum Association, founded by Jean René Mestre. Originally a pharmacist, he wrote numerous books on the Puy green lentil. He even dedicated his doctoral thesis to the subject of the Puy green lentil.
Several projects have been set up in recent years in a space dedicated to lenses, and the one that is taking shape today is finally coming to fruition thanks to the financial partners interested in it.
Was it important to create such a place?
Yes, because the green lentil from Le Puy comes in second place, after the path of Saint-JacquesWhen people are asked what the city of Le Puy-en-Velay evokes for them, this is what emerged from a survey conducted a year or two ago. This result reinforced our decision to create a place entirely dedicated to it.
Was the choice of its location made by chance?
No, that's right. Originally, we had chosen the Place du Plot, a space located above a perfume shop, but it proved too complicated to implement the project there. So, we took advantage of the availability of premises on Boulevard du Breuil to bring the project to fruition. The location is ideal for tourists visiting Le Puy-en-Velay. This location offers excellent visibility!
What spaces are available inside?
The tour lasts approximately 45 minutes. It allows visitors to experience immersive and interactive spaces, setting it apart from traditional museums. This is why the venue was named "The Adventure of the Puy Lentil".
There is a space dedicated to the region and the farmers' expertise, and an immersive room where visitors can watch a film about the area and the work of the producers. Another space is dedicated to the nutritional benefits of Puy green lentils. A third space is devoted to their history, highlighting the major milestones from Mesopotamia to the present day, and a final space is dedicated to gastronomy.
It allows visitors to travel to different countries where lentils are cooked, before arriving in the kitchen of renowned Michelin-starred chef Régis Marcon. There, they find themselves in an immersive room where they can discover a recipe using green lentils from Le Puy.
Is it a great showcase from a tourism perspective?
Yes! The idea is to showcase the expertise of the green lentil producers of Le Puy and everything that goes with it, such as the restaurants that regularly use them. The goal is to expand the tourism offerings and encourage visitors to Le Puy-en-Velay to stay longer, as they sometimes only stop for a day. In fact, some producers are happy to offer tours of their farms.
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