Espace gallo-romain
Archaeological museum in Ath on daily life in Roman Gaul, with two ancient boats from Pommeroeul, including a barge classified as a treasure of the Fédération.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
In 1975, excavations at Pommeroeul, near Bernissart, uncovered at a depth of about 2.5 m a Gallo-Roman site of international importance: a port settlement at the crossroads of a Roman road and the Haine. The remains found there, including two exceptionally well-preserved boats, are at the origin of the museum.
The Espace gallo-romain has been open to the public since 1997, in the heart of Ath, in the former Académie de dessin behind a neoclassical façade. Its collections bring together objects from excavations and surveys around Ath and Pommeroeul: tableware, shoes, tools, objects in leather, glass, ceramic, wood and metal, as well as rare pieces such as swords and statuettes. They belong to several owners, notably the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles and the Service public de Wallonie, and are supplemented by deposits from the local history and archaeology circle.
The two centrepieces are the barge, 12.70 m long as preserved, dating from the turn of the 1st and 2nd centuries and classified as a treasure of the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles since 2010, and a dugout oak canoe of nearly 10 m, dated to AD 67. The display distinguishes authentic objects from reconstructions and makes use of interactivity, models and drawings. The first floor has just been entirely redesigned around ancient boating.
Highlights
- Gallo-Roman barge from Pommeroeul, classified as a treasure of the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles
- Dugout oak canoe dated to AD 67
- New route devoted to ancient boating: life on board, boat construction, river trade
- Everyday objects in wood and leather, materials rarely preserved
- Roman activities and games for families, visitor booklets and workshops
Permanent exhibition
- Exposition permanente : bateaux antiques de Pommeroeul et vie quotidienne gallo-romaine – Route from floor to floor around the barge and the canoe, from the aerial view of the site to scenes of everyday life; the first floor, renovated in 2026, covers life on board, boat construction and river trade.
- Founded
- 1997
- Operated by
- Ville d'Ath / Office du Tourisme d'Ath
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €6 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €4Children, students and people with disabilities (aged 3 to 24) |
| Children & teens | €4Rate for ages 3 to 24. |
| Seniors | €6No separate senior rate: the adult rate applies. |
| Visitors with disabilities | €4 |
| Students & apprentices | €4Ages 3 to 24. |
| Groups (15+ people) | €7 per personGroups of 15 or more people, reservation required: €7 to €14 per person depending on the formula (guided tour, workshop, half-day). Packages for groups of 5 to 14 people: €40 to €60 for a guided tour, €100 for a workshop. Free-admission and reduction cards are not valid at the group rate. |
| Guided tour, workshop or activity (supplement) | €4€4 to €6 per person depending on the activity. |
Free admission: First Sunday of the month.
The admission price includes the permanent and temporary exhibitions. Free admission on presentation of cards such as the Carte Prof, the Passeport 365.be or the ICOM card.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
Route adapted for people with reduced mobility: reception point, accessible toilets, lift, ramps, intercom and videos in sign language. Information and content for visually and hearing-impaired visitors; guide dogs permitted. Public accessible parking space nearby.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Time needed | approx. 2 hrs |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
- Hands-on stations
- Kids’ birthday parties
Visitor booklet on Gallo-Roman animals (ages 6 to 13), “Labo-archéos” with puzzle furniture, a Roman games area, the “Marmaille & Co” game bag (ages 4 to 16) and the “Labo des curieux” to awaken the senses. Birthday parties on Wednesdays 13:00–17:00 for ages 5 to 8 and 8 to 12: €10 per child (20 children maximum), birthday child free. Special activities during school holidays.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Gare d'Ath
Ath NMBS station (rue de la Station) with links from Brussels, Tournai, Mons and Geraardsbergen; Ath TEC bus station with lines from Chièvres/Saint-Ghislain, Silly/Enghien, Péruwelz, Blaton/Quevaucamps and Tongre-Notre-Dame/Belœil.
By car
Paid parking
Paid parking for cars and bicycles; coaches: drop-off point in front of the façade, parking nearby (boulevard Alphonse Deneubourg, boulevard du Château 16, pont de Brantignies). City-centre parking plan available on site.
- Accessible parking
Amenities & dining
- Museum shop
- Lockers
Shop with archaeology books, children's books and reproductions of ancient objects (jewellery, oil lamps, tableware).
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 1.5 hrs |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Guided and animated tours, workshops and activities all year round; a programme à la carte for adult groups in a format of 1 hour 30 minutes or 2 hours, reservation required. The visit duration of 2 hours indicated on the website applies to a family visit. Combinations possible with the Maison des Géants, the Musée de la Pierre, the Tour Burbant or the Brasserie des Légendes. |
