Musée de l'Ancien Evêché

About the museum

The museum occupies the former episcopal palace of Grenoble, next to Notre-Dame cathedral. The building preserves parts from the 12th century and courtyard façades from the 17th century; its grand staircase dates from 1673. Forty-eight bishops resided here until the separation of Church and State in 1906. The palace then housed scientific institutes, including a glaciology laboratory.

In 1989, work linked to the tramway uncovered a late 3rd-century Roman rampart and a baptistery used from around the 4th to the 10th century. Archaeological excavations took place from 1991 to 1996. A fire had damaged part of the building in January 1989.

The Isère Department acquired the palace and opened the Musée de l'Ancien Évêché there on September 18, 1998. Admission has been free since 2004. The museum is part of the network of eleven departmental museums. The garden was completed in 2014.

The permanent circuit “L'Isère en histoire” presents, in chronological order, the history of the region from prehistory to the present day, with archaeological, historical and ethnographic collections. The museum also presents two temporary exhibitions each year.

Highlights

• Baptistery of Grenoble and remains of the Gallo-Roman rampart, in the basement
• Permanent circuit “L'Isère en histoire”, from prehistory to today
• Former bishops' palace, a historic monument, with its grand staircase of 1673
• Museum garden with archaeological remains and the cathedral apse
• Free admission every day

Permanent exhibitions

• L'Isère en histoire – This chronological circuit presents the history of the Isère and its people, from prehistory to the present day, based on the departmental collections.
• Baptistère de Grenoble – An underground circuit shows the remains of the Gallo-Roman rampart and the baptistery where the first Christians were baptized in the 4th century.

Founded

1998

Operated by

Département de l'Isère

Director

Sylvie Vincent, conservatrice en chef du patrimoine

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission to the museum is free for everyone, every day.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• 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 states that it is accessible to people with reduced mobility, but the elevator is currently out of service; its replacement is planned for late 2026.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

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

Workshops for young audiences and family workshops take place regularly. A puzzle booklet about the baptistery and a tablet guide are available free of charge at reception.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop
• Coat check

Shop and unsupervised cloakroom available. The rooms are air-conditioned. Suitcases and large bags are not accepted.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit