Beneath the peaceful foliage of Suresnes, a faint, almost evanescent scent of forgotten biscuits still lingers. One hundred and sixty years ago, the Olibet factory released its sweet aromas on the banks of the Seine, at the heart of an era when laundries, dye works, and the first railways were reshaping the geography of the suburbs. It all began around 1860, when Honoré-Jean Olibet,, a baker in Talence, crossed the Channel to learn the new art of shortbread from the English.

Back in France, he perfected the recipe,, soon joined by his son Eugène and their partner Auguste-René Lucas. Little by little, from oven to machine, the company grew, established itself in Suresnes, and etched its name into the country's culinary history. Through a unique selection of decorated metal tins, shimmering advertising posters, postcards, and unexpected objects, the exhibition, organized by the MUS in partnership with the Forum des Arts et de la Culture de Talence and Olibet Biscuits, invites visitors on a journey as surprising as it is delicious.

Each display case not only reveals the graphic treasures of a pioneering brand but also tells the story of the evolution of a lifestyle, from bourgeois dining to the rise of the middle class and the invention of modern pleasures. In the images of yesteryear, one can imagine country picnics, grocery counters, and shop windows with faded gilding. Behind the boxes resembling miniature cabinets, a whole world of industrial optimism and everyday pleasures resurfaces. An era when the biscuit, having become an object of desire, symbolized the promise of better days and a rediscovered childhood.

From Suresnes to Talence, this discreet, often overlooked saga is now being reborn with tenderness. An invitation to delve into history, to savor the little miracles of everyday life, and to rediscover, between two images, the forgotten scent of sunny Sundays.

MUS - Museum of Urban and Social History of Suresnes
From July 10 to September 21, 2025
1 Place Michel Colucci, known as Coluche, 92150 Suresnes. Wed. to Sun., 2 pm - 6 pm - Admission: €6 - Reduced rate: €4 - Free for under 26s