Musée archéologique départemental du Val-d'Oise

About the museum

The museum is located in the centre of Guiry-en-Vexin, opposite the château, in the Vexin français Regional Nature Park. It succeeded a small association museum created in 1955 by the Centre de recherches archéologiques du Vexin français, which occupied the village town hall. A new building in contemporary style was built from 1980, inaugurated in 1983 and extended in 1992.

The Val-d'Oise department runs the museum. It has held the Musée de France label since 2004 and presents itself as the only archaeology museum with a departmental remit in Île-de-France. Its collections comprise about 22,000 inventoried objects from more than half a century of excavations across the territory.

The permanent route, spread over two levels, begins with the geology of the Paris Basin. It then follows human occupation from prehistory to the present day, covering the protohistoric, Gallo-Roman and medieval periods. It spans about 90 million years of natural evolution and 200,000 years of human presence. Notable features include the remains of the Gallo-Roman sanctuary of Genainville and its restored wall paintings. A waymarked path also links the museum to the Musée de l'outil (tool museum) through the Bois de Morval.

Highlights

• Permanent route over two levels, from geology to the present day
• Gallo-Roman wall paintings from Genainville, restored
• Reconstructed dig site and the La Passerelle learning space
• Neolithic gallery grave (allée couverte) in the nearby Morval woods
• Path between the two museums to the tool museum

Permanent exhibition

• Parcours permanent du musée – A chronological route over two levels, from the geology of the Cretaceous to the present day, with the Gallo-Roman remains of Genainville.

Founded

1983

Operated by

Département du Val d'Oise

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Some events offer free admission.

Free admission also for recipients of social minimum benefits, children in care (enfance protégée) and their accompanying adults, journalists, tour guides, members of ICOM and ICOMOS, teachers on class visits, and members of the partner associations AAMADVO and CRAVF. Teachers visiting outside class trips pay €2.50. Some activities are included in the entry ticket; others are charged separately.

Accessibility

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

A lift serves all rooms of the permanent route. Accessible toilets are located in the permanent route (room 4, Protohistory). Some slopes require help from another person. Walking-stick seats are freely available, sensory bags can be borrowed from reception on presentation of an ID, and tactile installations are on the lower level of the collections. An easy-read booklet accompanies each temporary exhibition, and French Sign Language tours are offered. There are no reserved parking spaces; the museum asks visitors to call ahead.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Kids’ birthday parties

Workshops for children and family activities are offered from 18 months, centred on prehistory, Antiquity and the Middle Ages, with simulated digs, jewellery, mosaics or pottery. The museum holds the “Musée Joyeux” label from the Môm’Art network. Birthday parties are possible from age 3, with packages for ages 3–4, 5–7 and 8–12. Children under 8 enter free.

Getting there & parking

The museum is about 50 km from central Paris, 40 to 50 minutes by car in normal traffic: from the A15, take the D14 towards Rouen, then follow the Musée archéologique signs (exit 17). There is no direct bus from Paris; the journey with connections takes about 2 hours 45 minutes. The two-museum trail links the museum on foot to the tool museum through the Morval woods. The area is well suited to cycling.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop
• Lockers

Lockers are available at reception. The shop is located at reception and can be accessed without an entry ticket.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit