PréhistoSite de Brassempouy

About the museum

The Brassempouy museum opened in 2002 under the name “Maison de la Dame”. It presents the finds from the nearby Grottes du Pape and the work of the archaeologists who have been digging there for nearly 150 years. The site is known for the Dame à la capuche and eight other ivory figurines found at the end of the 19th century. The originals are kept at the Musée d'Archéologie nationale in Saint-Germain-en-Laye; in Brassempouy, casts are on display.

Designed by Pierre and Éric Raffy, the building resembles an unfinished pyramid and recalls an Egyptian mastaba. Three monumental statues by Roselyne Conil, reproducing figurines found at Brassempouy, tower over it.

The route covers the life and tools of the Cro-Magnons in the Upper Palaeolithic (around 45,000 to 12,000 BCE) as well as prehistoric art, with engraved bones and horse teeth pierced and engraved around 18,000 years ago. The collections include objects from excavations and a series of casts of famous figurines from Europe and Siberia. A children’s area recreates a prehistoric living space. The PréhistoSite is run by the Communauté de communes Coteaux et Vallées des Luys and also includes an open-air ArchéoParc.

Highlights

• Casts of the Dame à la capuche and the Brassempouy figurines
• Objects from the excavations of the Grottes du Pape
• Demonstrations in the ArchéoParc: flint knapping, fire-making, prehistoric hunting
• Visit to the archaeological site of the Grottes du Pape (by reservation)
• Architecture in the form of an unfinished pyramid

Permanent exhibitions

• Musée de Brassempouy – Objects from the Grottes du Pape, casts of prehistoric figurines from Europe and Siberia, and a children’s area.
• ArchéoParc – Open-air park with demonstrations of flint knapping and fire-making, and an introduction to prehistoric hunting.

Founded

2002

Operated by

Communauté de communes Coteaux et Vallées des Luys

Admission & discounts

The ticket covers the museum, the temporary exhibitions, the ArchéoParc activities and the school-holiday workshops. Free for residents of the Communauté de communes Coteaux et Vallées des Luys upon proof. Several partner discounts and works council (comité d'entreprise) rates are available. Payment in cash, by cheque, bank card or paper Chèques-Vacances (not Chèques-Vacances Connect).

Accessibility

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

Three reserved parking spaces are less than 50 m from the entrance. The reception and the museum have ramps; the museum’s is a gentle slope of about 120 m. The ArchéoParc is reached by around a hundred steps, or by a 400 m path from a separate car park for visitors with reduced mobility. The archaeological site is not accessible to visitors with reduced mobility. Visually impaired visitors can handle replicas, including the series of Brassempouy figurines, on request. Adapted tours are possible by reservation.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Baby changing facilities

Some guided tours are suited to children. A children’s area recreates a prehistoric living space, with natural materials to handle. Workshops take place during school holidays, and the ArchéoParc offers demonstrations. A changing table is installed in the toilets.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Café: not available
• Restaurant: not available
• Museum shop

There is no café on site. The reception includes a shop selling local products. Independent restaurants are in the village, and a picnic area is about 150 m away. Dogs on a lead are allowed at the PréhistoSite, but not at the archaeological site.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Corporate events

Up to 100 guests.

Several rooms are available for hire: a 50 m² multipurpose room (up to 70 people), a 40 m² laboratory, a 36 m² Cro-Magnon room and an 80 m² covered hall (préau, around 100 people) with views of the Pyrenees.

Plan your visit