Maison des Consuls – Musée d'arts et d'archéologie

About the museum

The museum opened in 1951 in the so-called Maison des Consuls, in the medieval village of Les Matelles. It was founded through the efforts of the archaeologist Pierre Pannoux and Joseph Martin, who was then mayor and owner of the building, and it was the first prehistory museum in the Hérault department. It was first known as the Musée de la Préhistoire des Matelles, then as the Musée du Pic Saint-Loup, and today it is the Grand Pic Saint-Loup museum of art and archaeology.

The permanent collection comes from Pierre Pannoux's excavations around the village, notably the Suquet Cocoulières cave and the sites of Roubiac and Bois-Martin. The holdings comprise 3,500 individually catalogued items out of a total of 18,000: pottery, tools, flint, jewelry and animal bones from the Paleolithic. The prehistory galleries present a selection of 1,800 pieces, from the Upper Paleolithic to the Final Neolithic, along with videos on the techniques of early craftspeople and a model of a dry-stone dwelling of the Fontbouisse culture. Two menhir statues, those of Cazarils and Cassillac, bear witness to art at the end of the Neolithic period.

The museum aims to bring archaeology and contemporary art into dialogue: temporary exhibitions by artists are presented there every year. It has held the “Musée de France” label since 2003.

Highlights

• Collection from the excavations of Pierre Pannoux (Suquet Cocoulières cave, Roubiac, Bois-Martin)
• Selection of 1,800 pieces from the prehistory of the garrigue north of Montpellier
• Village model of the Fontbouisse culture and videos on prehistoric techniques
• Two menhir statues: Cazarils and Cassillac
• Entire collection and archives viewable on a touchscreen
• Temporary exhibitions of contemporary art

Permanent exhibition

• Collection permanente : le fonds archéologique Pierre Pannoux – A selection of 1,800 prehistoric pieces from the area around Les Matelles, from the Upper Paleolithic to the Final Neolithic, with two menhir statues and videos on the techniques of early craftspeople.

Founded

1951

Operated by

Communauté de communes du Grand Pic Saint-Loup

Visitors per year

approx. 5,264

Admission & discounts

Admission includes the permanent collection and the temporary exhibition. Journalists with a professional card also enter free. The museum is part of the “Sites d'exception en Languedoc” network: when you buy a full-price ticket, you can ask for a multi-site pass that gives free entry to the Maison des Consuls. Payment by bank card (recommended), cash or check.

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

The museum is accessible to people with reduced mobility when accompanied; the entrance is on a sloping street paved with cobblestones.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide

During the season, backpacks with games and tools for exploring the temporary exhibition are available at the front desk for children, teenagers and families. A creative area and a reading corner are also provided. Children must remain accompanied.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Wi-Fi

Air-conditioned rooms. Wi-Fi listed on the Tourisme Occitanie page. Pets not allowed.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit