Miniature Buildings

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Valence Museum

In February 2026 we visited the small city of Valence in France, south of Lyons as part of our 2026 Spring tour.  In the city museum, which focuses on the history of the city and landscape art, there were a good number of models.  Here are just a few of them.

First, a series of simple wooden models illustrating how the city's cathedral grew over time.

A good example of how models can serve a useful purpose rather than just being fun to make and good to look at.
Below are two of the intermediate stages:

Models of churches and cathedrals appear quite often in this website.  This article on churches is a starting point.

Next, one of a series of models depicting what it is believed Roman buildings would have looked like.  This one is a reconstruction of a forge at the Claveysonnes site at Montélier just east of Valence from the 4th century AD.

Not an especially exciting model of a building but I did like the cutaway style, the roof construction and the interior detail. The model is 1/50 scale, made by the Art du Petit workshopin 2014. They specialise in models for museums and cultural venues.

Another conjectural model is this reconstruction of a house from the Boubousson site at Crest in the Drome region, dating from the 5th century.

The model, made by Denis Delpalillo in 2001, is 1/30 scale
I am not normally a fan of thatch modelled with actual bundles of fibres ( as discussed in another article) but at this scale and for this period of house it seems to work well.   The fibres used are very fine.  Meticulous work.

Taking conjecture to its limits, the next model is of a stone age ( or bronze age?) shelter - which might just about count as a building.

Something very different is the next piece of late 12th century sculpture in Carrera marble.  Although well outside the normal range of model buildings it nevertheless includes a reproduction in miniature (half relief) of buildings.

The carving is on an unusual double capital, originally on top of twin pillars, taken from the ancient abbey of St Felix at Valence. It depicts the descent of Christ into limbo.

Next an unusual, and old, miniature.  The picture below is of parts of a model, believed to be 19th century, of a bell tower at Molasse.

And finally, just for the sake of completeness, a large but rather boring model of a bridge.