Rabelais open book La Devinière: museum and birthplace of François Rabelais

These few lines will take you on a journey to a pretty little corner of France. From Chinon, the road south passes through beautiful agricultural landscapes and puts the visitor in a certain frame of mind. François Rabelais, who died in Paris in 1553, is said to have been born in Seuilly, in a pretty country house that you’ll see as you round a bend in the road.

Explore the house where Rabelais was born

Push open the door of La Devinière and immerse yourself in the history of François Rabelais. Located in Seuilly, near Chinon, this 15th-century residence invites you to step back in time. You’ll discover an architectural ensemble typical of Touraine, made up of several buildings organised around a square courtyard. Admire the dovecote, the winegrower’s and tenant farmer’s houses, and enter the writer’s supposed bedroom. Each room reveals a fragment of the story of this 16th-century humanist.

Between daily life and literary heritage, let yourself be captivated by this place where the echoes of Gargantua and Pantagruel still resonate.

Immerse yourself in the literary world of Rabelais

Wander through the museum and explore the collections devoted to the work of Rabelais. Ancient engravings, portraits, rare editions and period objects immerse you in the satirical and humanist world of the story. Each room reveals a piece of his story: his childhood, his career as a doctor and his commitment to Renaissance humanist thought. Discover the origins of expressions that are still alive today: “gargantuan”, “pantagruelic”, or “appetite comes with eating”. Through these archives and dramatisations, measure the impact of Rabelais on the French language and culture.

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♬ Celtic Music/Fantastic/Fantasy(1324312) – Akihiro Kasuga

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Discover the troglodytic cellars and vineyards

Enter the bowels of La Devinière by exploring its troglodytic cellars. Carved intothe tuffeau, these underground galleries reveal the winegrowing history of the place and offer a fascinating journey beneath the house where Rabelais was born. Once used as storage and winemaking spaces, they bear witness to the indestructible link between the writer and the Touraine terroir. You can also visit the medicinal plant garden and the vineyard at Clos de La Devinière, a reminder of Rabelais’ interest in botany and wine, which figured prominently in his works and his philosophy of good food.

Walk in the footsteps of Rabelais

Extend the experience by taking the interpretation trail “In the footsteps of Rabelais the botanist”. This8km hike passes through pastoral landscapes, dotted with iconic sites such as the Abbaye de Seuilly and the Château du Coudray-Montpensier. Let yourself be transported by these places that inspired the author in his truculent descriptions. Between vines, hedged farmland and buildings steeped in history, you’ll walk in the footsteps of this giant of French literature. This immersive walk is an invitation to feel the influence of the terroir on Rabelais’s work and appreciate the timeless beauty of Touraine.

A unique cultural experience

La Devinière is more than just a museum: it’s a real place for cultural life. Throughout the year, attend temporary exhibitions, conferences and animations paying tribute to Rabelais and his times. These interactive events allow you to deepen your understanding of his work and grasp its full richness. Whether you’re a lover of literature, a history buff or simply curious, each visit promises to be an enriching discovery. Come and celebrate laughter, gastronomy and the esprit rabelaisien at this unique venue in the heart of Touraine.

From his writings, many expressions have stood the test of time:

“Les moutons de Panurge”

“Retournons à nos moutons”

“The Substantial Marrow”

“Pantagruelic”

“Gargantuan”

“Picrocholine War”

“Quintessential”

“Laughter is the nature of man”

“Appetite comes with eating, thirst goes with drinking”

“Everything comes to he who can wait” …