The Musée du Compagnonnage in Tours is a museum dedicated to the long tradition of the "Compagnons du Devoir", the ancient guilds of arts and crafts present in France and Northern Europe since the Middle Ages and still partly active today. Inaugurated in 1968, the museum is housed in the ancient abbey of Saint-Julien (12th century). The museum holds hundreds of objects, tools, photographs and documents that testify to the history, development and traditions within the Compagnons, as well as various handicrafts made by members of the guilds. The exhibitions, entertainment and re-enactments make the Musée du Compagnonnage a lively and active place in remembering the traditions of the city and France.