La Maison des Johnnies et de l'Oignon de Roscoff
La Maison des Johnnies et de l'Oignon de Roscoff
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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4.0
92 reviews
Excellent
41
Very good
37
Average
5
Poor
3
Terrible
6
Cool Caro
Oxford, UK55 contributions
Jul 2022
This small museum tells the history of the onion johnnies who used to travel the UK selling their strings of delicious Roscoff onions from bicylcles. There are lots of interesting photos and some film footage to watch. I think I remember them from my London childhood!
Written July 19, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
philippe g
Brussels, Belgium118 contributions
Sep 2016 • Couples
I can remember the Johnnies coming down our streets with their onions on their bicycles as a child and so I was very interested in visiting this small museum when in Roscoff. Some very good photos showing the history of the Johnnies and an excellent short film starring ex-Johnnies. You would have to understand some French to be able to get the most out of the visit.
Written September 22, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ian P
Tavistock, UK45 contributions
Jun 2019 • Couples
Having visited Roscoff some 50 plus years ago I wanted to remind myself of what it was like. The museum is small though has some great exhibits. I loved the film of onion Johnnie’s in London during the 1960s
Written July 3, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gillian R
Ilfracombe, UK25 contributions
Aug 2016 • Couples
An interesting look into the way the French onion sellers now live, but also shows the history of the French onion sellers with their bikes and onions going to England and selling them there. In August there are market stalls with different types of onions, as well as drinks and live music. Their is also traditional Breton dancing which you can also join in.
Written November 9, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AndrewJohnWaller
London, UK93 contributions
Aug 2015 • Couples
This tiny museum dedicated to the Breton Farmers who first took their delicate pink onions to sell over in England is located in a quiet backstreet in the pretty little port of Roscoff.
It tells the story and fortunes of a once lucrative and profitable cross-channel trade whereby farmers used to export, store and sell their wares in southern England which was closer and at the time, easier to reach than Paris.
Young men and some young children, Johnnies as they became called by the English, took the name to heart, adopting it in the Breton form of ‘Ar johnnieged’ – les johnnies. They wore typical Breton clothing an image still popularised by the English today in the form of the bike riding, onion selling Frenchman.
The museum is fascinating and contains many artefacts and personal accounts of life as an Onion Johnnie, the hardship of long stays away from home and the tragedy of the sinking of the Steamer Hilda in 1905 when 70 Johnnies lost their lives.
Such is the significance and importance of the Oignon Rose de Roscoff, they’ve been awarded the status of Appellation d’origine contrôlée and each August is celebrated with the Fête de l’Oignon de Roscoff.
It’s claimed that the enterprise of these farmers was the true inspiration for the launch in the 1970’s of Brittany Ferries, itself created from an agricultural alliance and whose headquarters are also based in Roscoff.
The museum is free and a guided tour is available for a small fee.
It tells the story and fortunes of a once lucrative and profitable cross-channel trade whereby farmers used to export, store and sell their wares in southern England which was closer and at the time, easier to reach than Paris.
Young men and some young children, Johnnies as they became called by the English, took the name to heart, adopting it in the Breton form of ‘Ar johnnieged’ – les johnnies. They wore typical Breton clothing an image still popularised by the English today in the form of the bike riding, onion selling Frenchman.
The museum is fascinating and contains many artefacts and personal accounts of life as an Onion Johnnie, the hardship of long stays away from home and the tragedy of the sinking of the Steamer Hilda in 1905 when 70 Johnnies lost their lives.
Such is the significance and importance of the Oignon Rose de Roscoff, they’ve been awarded the status of Appellation d’origine contrôlée and each August is celebrated with the Fête de l’Oignon de Roscoff.
It’s claimed that the enterprise of these farmers was the true inspiration for the launch in the 1970’s of Brittany Ferries, itself created from an agricultural alliance and whose headquarters are also based in Roscoff.
The museum is free and a guided tour is available for a small fee.
Written August 28, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LondonSkitripper
London154 contributions
Aug 2014 • Couples
The guided tours are only in French, so you get a discount if you don't speak the language. If you didn't know what it was, you think you were looking at a couple of old sheds full of rusty farm equipment. History of the Johnnies is interesting – but buy a book!
Written September 30, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sarah G
Treignac, France75 contributions
Oct 2022
A fascinating story from the inception, the growing of onions, farming implements and their trips to UK. Interesting display of photographs. We were also given a guide in English. Well worth a visit.
Written October 15, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CDOxfordshire
Oxfordshire8 contributions
Jul 2022 • Solo
Although I enjoyed looking at the photos and the information sheet I was given the museum, as you would expect, is in French and you miss most of the experience if you don't understand it. I would not recommend it for children and you will probably be there less than half an hour.
Written July 23, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tawviewers
Devon, UK82 contributions
Oct 2019
We visited the museum, having read the reviews and having been to Roscoff many times but never visited. The museum is quite small, and a lot of the content is in French (reasonable as its in France I feel, and the fault is mine for not being better at French). The parts I particularly enjoyed were the photos of Johnnies and their families, both in Finistere but also in England. I remember one coming to the back door of my childhood home in the New Forest, so I felt connected a bit. I also enjoyed the film, with music and lots of people talking - I had no real idea what they were saying but it didnt really matter. There were also some displays that I understood enough French to get some idea of meaning from - but again, that was fine. Also enjoyed looking at some farm equipment that looked like it came from my childhood. I really think that this is a museum that you take as you find it. I went in with a positive frame of mind, and was happy with what I found. I would have liked more onions around, and for the touch screen display for kids to work out what ingredients go into various recipes had more variety.
Written October 21, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello,
thank you for your opinion !
Natacha ADLERFLIEGEL, médiatrice culturelle
Written December 10, 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Lesley S
Newquay, UK87 contributions
Sep 2019
Have tried to visit this museum often but we have never been there at the right time, until last week. The museum, though small, has interesting videos and a very good talk by the guide - but in French! We were the only English speakers there but there is a written commentary as well. A must to visit especially if you remember the onion Johnnies coming to UK to sell their onions.
Written September 18, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello,
Thank you for your visit to the museum and roscoff
Natacha Adlerfliegel, médiatrice culturelle
Written December 10, 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
susanfY4775DN
South Devon, UK5 contributions
Opening times please?
philippe g
Brussels, Belgium118 contributions
Not sure but not open every day and not before 11 am I think! We were caught out and had to go on a walk while we waited for,them to open. Best to check their web site!
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Frequently Asked Questions about La Maison des Johnnies et de l'Oignon de Roscoff
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La Maison des Johnnies et de l'Oignon de Roscoff Information
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