Bars and Stories: Exhibition at the Chalosse Museum (April 15 - October 31, 2021)

Catalog of an exhibition on bars in the Montfort-en-Chalosse region, in the Landes, which serves as a pretext for a panorama of the history of convivial places characteristic of the French way of life in rural areas. The authors discuss the creation of these establishments, their patronage, the products consumed there, and the activities related to these places of social interaction.

Through the example of the villages of Terres de Chalosse, we can understand the role of cafes, inns, and other pubs in village society: cafes are at the heart of the village, often providing more than just the opportunity to consume drinks. They are places for reunions and exchanges during fairs and markets, or around games, and later as places to buy essential products, serving as convenient small shops for the residents of these rural areas. Cafes have developed multiple functions that have not shielded them from a slow but seemingly inevitable disappearance. However, their central place within the village community ensures a deep attachment from the population and, consequently, a special role in the work of converting rural spaces and creating alternative places.