The museum

 

 

An exceptional archaeological site. Located on the right bank of the Rhône, the Saint-Romain-en-Gal archaeological site includes more than three hectares with the remains of a residential neighbourhood of the Roman town of Vienne. This area was occupied as of the first century B.C., and experienced considerable urban growth around A.D. 50.

 

An unashamedly modern museum

The site was discovered in 1967 when preparations were underway for the construction of a secondary school in Saint-Romain-en-Gal. It is now a protected archaeological site extending over almost 7 hectares.

From the moment they were discovered, the exceptional interest of the ruins and the numerous mosaics prompted the idea of creating a museum on the site. The museum was designed by architects Philippe Chaix and Jean-Paul Morel, and opened in 1996. Every wall of the exhibit room is transparent and so this room offers an overall view of the whole site, the Rhône, and the town of Vienne on the left bank.

 

A unique scenography to understand a vanished world

The collections constitute a complete panorama of daily life in the early centuries of our era. The basis of the collections came from archaeological digs and mainly comprises mosaics and painted murals, as well as objects related to domestic or craftsmen's activities. An ethnological approach is used, with many scale-model reconstructions.

The visitor first discovers the site, its history, and the scope of Romanisation. Trades, commerce, and the economic importance of the town, a source of wealth for its inhabitants, are then evoked in the part of the museum overlooking the Rhône, which serves as a reminder of the river's essential role as a means of communication and transport. The presentation of a Roman house, room by room, recreates the environment and the actions of everyday life.

 

Scientific research and restoration

A research and documentary centre has been incorporated into the museum to analyse, process and publish data from the digs. The interdepartmental restoration workshop for mosaics and painted plaster (ARM) has earned an international reputation thanks to its technical capabilities.

 

 

The life of the museum

The museum organises temporary exhibits and offers activities for all types of audience: guided tours, workshops, themed days, heritage classes, concerts, shows, lectures, etc.  You will also find: a library specialising in Gallo-Roman civilisation and archaeology, a 166-seat auditorium, a shop and a restaurant. The 'Friends of the Museum' organise lectures, customised tours, and archaeological trips. They help to promote the museum and to enhance it by contributing to the restoration of articles.