Le CIMA (Centre International de Mécanique d’Art), Sainte-Croix

Le CIMA (Centre International de Mécanique d’Art), Sainte-Croix

Le CIMA (Centre International de Mécanique d’Art), Sainte-Croix The International Centre for Art Mechanics (CIMA) displays a mechanical workshop as they used to exist at the beginning of the 20th century, the golden industrial era in Sainte-Croix. CIMA, which can only be visited with a guide, shows a historic collection of music boxes and humanoid automata. Some of the exhibits are known worldwide, for example Pierrot, the writer, and an acrobat performing tricks with a chair. There is also a surprising scene created by illustrator Etienne Délessert, where mechanically animated fantastic figures come to life.

Set in the heart of the Jura, Sainte-Croix has been a world centre of mechanical movements, in particular music boxes. This tradition started around 1811 and reached its peak in 1896, when the number of workers exceeded that of the inhabitants. The music box industry started declining in the 20th century. Today there is only one manufacture: Reuge SA, some of whose top-quality works are exhibited at CIMA.