Musée Pierre Martel

About the museum

The museum occupies the former village school of Vachères. It tells about 100 million years of history through the stone of Vachères, in three themes: palaeontology, flint knapping, and traces of human occupation. It holds the “Musée de France” label.

The route unfolds across two rooms. The first, devoted to the memory of the stones, displays fossils of plants, insects, birds and mammals from the region. The fossil of Bachithérium, an animal more than 30 million years old, is a highlight. The second room, devoted to the memory of humankind, shows archaeological remains; one of the best known is the Warrior of Vachères, a statue of a Gallo-Roman soldier.

Prehistoric people exploited the valley’s flint, which they were already exporting in the Neolithic. The museum’s texts are available in English and German.

Highlights

• Bachithérium fossil, more than 30 million years old
• Warrior of Vachères, a statue of a Gallo-Roman soldier
• Fossils of plants, insects, birds and mammals
• Flint tools and the history of flint knapping
• Museum housed in the village’s former school

Permanent exhibitions

• La mémoire des pierres – First room devoted to palaeontology: fossils of plants, insects, birds and mammals, including the Bachithérium.
• La mémoire de l’homme – Second room devoted to flint knapping and archaeological remains, including the Warrior of Vachères.

Operated by

Commune de Vachères

Admission & discounts

Payment in cash or by cheque.

Accessibility

• 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

The museum is accessible to visitors with reduced mobility.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The museum is in the village of Vachères, on the D14 road between Reillanne and Banon.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit