This museum's ambition is to draw parallels between the history of France and that of the town. The historic gallery spans Prehistory to the Renaissance, including two Egyptian tombs with mummies. Velay gallery is devoted to ancient pilgrimages and to lace. The Fine Arts gallery showcases a priceless Virgin draped in a cloak (15C). The 3rd floor is the realm of Science and home to a rich palaeontological collection (the legendary Auvergne mastodon).