The flying man...
The first flying man in the history of mankind, who accomplished his feat in 1678, lived in Sablé-sur-Sarthe, and more precisely at 35 Grande-Rue, and it is in memory of this precursor that the founder of the museum dedicated to the lighter-than-air decided to set up a small museum on this site, called, of course, the "flying man's" museum. Unusual, isn't it?
These terms are perhaps, moreover, a little exaggerated, insofar as this intrepid and particularly imaginative man did not succeed. He would even have lost his life in this disastrous attempt.
Of course, this house, dating from the 15th century, the oldest in the city, is particularly typical and interesting in itself.
The "flying man" museum
This museum was created by Jean-Claude en Ragaru in 2004.
Initially, he is a passionate person who knows what he is talking about, since he is himself a former hot-air balloon pilot.
Of course, this museum is not one of the great national museums, but it happily concentrates, with a touch of nostalgia, the story of a passion.
You will find many documents that evoke the first flying men, engravings, drawings, objects...
And you will travel through the history of aerostation with gas balloons, hot air balloons, and all their evolution to airships ...
Four pieces with a precise theme for each one: history and techniques of the hot-air balloon, history and techniques of the gas balloon, the use of balloons in the military and paramilitary field, and, finally, the "festive" balloon, the "sports" balloon, the balloon in literature?
In short, enough to fly away!
Le musée « à l’homme volant ».
35, Grande-Rue
72300 Sablé-Sur-Sarthe
Office de tourisme de Sablé-sur-Sarthe
18, Rue Léon Legludic,
72300 Sablé-sur-Sarthe
Tel. : 02 43 95 00 60
Click on the image
Click on the image
