Musée Gallo-Romain de Waudrez

About the museum

The Gallo-Roman Museum of Waudrez is an archaeological site museum, located in the heart of the former Roman settlement of Vodgoriacum, along the Bavay–Tongeren–Cologne Roman road. It is run by the association Statio Romana, founded in 1969, which has been excavating the vicus since 1978. A first small temporary museum opened in 1980 on the rue de Clerfayt; the same year a donor left the association a small 19th-century farm on the Roman road in his will.

The association gradually restored the buildings: the cowshed became a ceramology laboratory, and the first museum room was inaugurated on 9 May 1987. In 1990 the association became the owner of the whole complex and was able to enlarge the museum, create a reception area, a documentation centre and a multipurpose room. Since 2017 the visit begins with a welcome room presenting the site, followed by two museum rooms.

The objects on display come almost entirely from excavations carried out on the vicus since the 1950s; only the Neolithic pieces come from the Spiennes mining site. Educational display cases illustrate daily life, construction, personal adornment, tableware, exchanges with the rest of the Empire and even death, from the 1st to the 4th century.

Highlights

• Gallo-Roman pottery, including a large terra sigillata bowl signed by the potter
• Latin alphabet engraved on pottery and a complete beam balance
• Reconstruction of part of a Roman roof and a collective cremation tomb
• Ceramology laboratory, visible during guided tours
• Forty-minute film about the vicus and the excavations

Permanent exhibitions

• Collection permanente : la vie quotidienne à Vodgoriacum – Two rooms of educational display cases on daily life in Gallo-Roman times, from the 1st to the 4th century, with pottery, everyday objects and reconstructions.
• Centre d’interprétation de la chaussée romaine – Introductory exhibition on the history of the Roman road Boulogne–Bavay–Tongeren–Cologne, accompanied by a catalogue.

Founded

1987

Operated by

ASBL Statio Romana

Admission & discounts

Adults from age 15. Activities for nursery classes and activities suited to all ages are available on request (price on request).

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: not available
• Accessible parking: not available
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum is laid out on one level, and the Access-i audit notes no steps in the rooms. However, the route from the car park is narrow and uneven, there is no reserved parking space and no accessible toilet, and several entrances are not all accessible. A bell allows you to call for staff. Assistance dogs are welcome.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

The museum welcomes families and school groups. Activities (archaeological digs, discovering old objects, Roman wooden games) are offered on request, from nursery school onwards; a play area complements the route.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

A multipurpose room can be used for meetings, conferences and study days, with the option of catering on site.

Plan your visit