Musée archéologique de la Haute-Meuse

About the museum

The Vieille Ferme de Godinne, in the municipality of Yvoir, is a former fortified seigneurial farm dating from 1623, listed since 1959 and located in a remarkable architectural ensemble on the banks of the Meuse. The de Maillen family, owners from 1512, enlarged and fortified it; the d’Orjo family later added a residence in Mosan Renaissance style, completed in 1687. The complex today houses a cultural centre with a library, a concert hall and a museum.

The Musée archéologique de la Haute-Meuse occupies the outbuildings wing of the farm. It opened in 2001, is run by the ASBL “Le Patrimoine de Godinne” and presents, on two levels, an overview of the archaeology of the Meuse valley and its tributaries upstream of Namur.

The route is both chronological and geographical: it starts with geological times and fossil collections, passes through all the periods of prehistory and ends in the Gallo-Roman and Merovingian periods, with rooms devoted to the Meuse, the Lesse and other tributaries. Key pieces include the finds from the Late Roman and Merovingian necropolis of Spontin, Édouard Dupont’s prehistoric research, the numerous prehistoric human remains from the Chauvaux massif and the Abri des Autours, as well as objects found by metal detectorists on the plateaus around Dinant.

Highlights

• 100,000 years of human presence in the Haute-Meuse, from prehistory to the Merovingian period
• Finds from the Spontin necropolis (Late Roman and Merovingian periods)
• Prehistoric remains from the Chauvaux massif and the Abri des Autours
• Space devoted to Édouard Dupont’s research in the Lesse valley
• Palaeontology room with fossils from the Haute-Meuse
• Listed 1623 seigneurial farm on the banks of the Meuse

Permanent exhibitions

• 100 000 ans de présence humaine en Haute-Meuse – Chronological and geographical route, from fossils and prehistory to the Gallo-Roman and Merovingian periods, with rooms devoted to the Meuse, the Lesse and other tributaries.
• Le cimetière antique de Spontin – A selection of finds from Late Roman and Merovingian graves discovered on the plateau on the left bank of the Bocq.
• Édouard Dupont – Space devoted to the research of Édouard Dupont, a pioneer of prehistoric archaeology in the caves of the Lower Lesse.

Founded

2001

Operated by

ASBL Le Patrimoine de Godinne

Admission & discounts

Free admission: First Sunday of the month: free admission, with the support of the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles.

The ticket is valid for the permanent exhibition and the temporary exhibition. Electronic payment possible. Guided school visits with activities by reservation.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Accessible for people with reduced mobility on the ground floor of the museum (temporary exhibition and fossil room) and at the shop.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

In the village of Godinne, follow the signs to “Musée archéologique de la Haute-Meuse”.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Shop with books on the history and archaeology of the Meuse valley and small souvenirs.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit