The House of Old Remedies
Medicinal plants, legends and old recipes in a renovated cowshed in Jovençan
At Jovençan, south-west of Aosta, on the right bank of the Dora, an old cowshed has been turned into a museum of medicinal plants. This is the Maison des anciens remèdes (House of Old Remedies). It opened its doors in 2011.
The plants and their uses
The museum presents the medicinal plants of the Aosta Valley. You learn to recognise them. You also discover their properties and how they were once used to treat illness.
Part of the visit is devoted to the stories and legends connected with these plants. There are also old recipes, handed down from one generation to the next.
Museum and documentation centre
The House does more than display. It also serves as a research and documentation centre. Its aim is to collect and safeguard traditional knowledge about healing plants before it is lost.
The building, the screens and the garden
The building itself is part of the visit. For generations, mountain farmers kept their animals here. They knew the plants of the surrounding area well.
Inside, interactive displays let you discover the plants in an entertaining way. Outside, a teaching garden shows the medicinal species growing in the ground. The place is well suited to a family outing.
Address
Maison des anciens remèdes
Hameau Les Adams, 29
11020 Jovençan (AO)
