After an active and expatriate life in the Val d’Oise in the Paris region, Jacques Beyly returned to live in his native Limousin. Born in Limoges, this collector at heart, who multiplied traveling exhibitions with his wife, has decided to retire in Arnac-la-Poste where he will open the Haut-Limousin bicycle museum next June. Because after cars and caravans, it was for the little queen that he became passionate. “When I put my finger in the gears, I realized that in the bike, there were a lot of very interesting things. Each manufacturer had technical particularities. Plus, there’s a whole bunch of stuff to collect on the side. You will also see plates that were on the Tour de France cars, posters, enamel plates, cans or even jerseys“explains Jacques Beyly.
The newest bike? That of Frédéric Brun on the Tour 84
And of course, bikes! The most recent having belonged to the regional Frédéric Brun who participated with this mount in the big loop in 1984. All the other bikes are even older. They will be exhibited in two rooms. The 1st, the bar-restaurant of the former Hôtel Moderne in Arnac-la-Poste, will be devoted to cycle races. “It will be called the Bernard Gauthier room. The one who had spotted Raymond Poulidor in Peyrat-le-Château and who had advised Antonin Magne to take him on the Mercier team“says Jacques, happy that his daughter has agreed to become godmother of the museum. The second part devoted to the History of the bicycle will be in the former ballroom whose origins fit perfectly with the project. “This ballroom was inaugurated by Jean Segurel who created the Bol d’Or des Monédières, a famous cycling race” in Correze.
This museum can only radiate at the national level – Sophie Drieux, mayor of Arnac
– Jacques Beyly
A ballroom dear to locals. Some elders danced there for the first time with their future husband or wife. Closed for 30 years, it is being restored just like the rest of the site. This also gives this project a real heritage interest. The municipality is in support and will soon start work to improve parking and accessibility to the site. “It is a very beautiful project which can only make live the commune. When a private person like Jacques proposes such a project with such passion, it’s a real pleasure. When you see the wealth of what it has, you say to yourself that this museum can only shine at the national level and that it will necessarily work“says Sophie Drieux, mayor of Arnac la Poste. A museum that will be popular. The price of the ticket will be only a few euros for around 1h30 of guided visit.