Well, okay, towards the end of the 19th century, more than 300 producers were active in Paris and its surroundings. But in 2016, there were only six left, and the real region for real mushrooms still falsely named "de Paris" is Touraine and Anjou, with its tufa hillsides pierced with huge cellars at constant temperature and humidity. And it is not for nothing, of course, that the Mushroom Museum is in Saumur ...
In a mushroom farm, of course!
There couldn't be a better site to set up this mushroom museum... than a mushroom farm.
Here you will follow an underground trail that, from space to space, shows the actual conditions of production. And, by the way, as there is a large production all year round, you can buy some on the spot so that you can make a pan at home on your way back.
You will see how tufa is extracted, how mycelium is made in the laboratory, and how compost is made.
You will really see these famous "button" mushrooms grow, but also blue feet, shii-take, oyster mushrooms, etc. At the museum, you will observe hundreds of species. Still... it is the largest collection of wild mushrooms in Europe!
And then, to finish with a smile, the troglodyte house will surprise you with its collection of mushroom objects of all kinds from all over the world.
In the surrounding area...
Still in Saint-Hilaire Saint-Florent, which is now part of Saumur, you have two places that are as unusual as they are interesting, and to which, of course, "Le Grand Ouest insolite" has devoted two articles. They are " Pierre et lumière " and " les jardins de Puygirault ". No, I don't describe them to you... follow the links !
Musée du Champignon
Route de Gennes
Saint-Hilaire Saint-Florent
49400 Saumur
Tél. : 02 41 50 31 55
https://www.musee-du-champignon.com/
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