Musée de la Diana
Archaeological museum of the Société historique du Forez, in the medieval building of La Diana in Montbrison, with its heraldic hall.
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About the museum
La Diana is the seat of the Société historique et archéologique du Forez, founded in 1862 in Montbrison and recognized as a public-interest organization. The building, a former canons’ cloister, houses a large hall built around 1295 under John I of Forez. It served as meeting place for the Estates of Forez until 1531; its wooden vault is covered with 1,728 painted coats of arms, and a frieze of 242 coats of arms mixed with fantastic animals runs along the springing of the vaults.
Devastated during the Revolution and turned into a stable and barn, the building was bought back in 1862 with the support of the Duke of Persigny, then restored between 1863 and 1865 in neo-Gothic style. The learned society installed a rich library, archives and an archaeological museum there, which opened in the 1880s.
The museum’s display cases present Neolithic, protohistoric, Gallo-Roman and medieval finds from Forez, and address themes such as arms, adornment, trade, hunting, fishing, daily life and ceramics.
Highlights
- Medieval heraldic hall from around 1295, with a wooden vault decorated with 1,728 coats of arms
- Frieze of 242 coats of arms intertwined with fantastic animals
- Archaeological collections of Forez, from the Neolithic to the Middle Ages
- Heritage library and archives of the learned society
Permanent exhibition
- Salle héraldique de la Diana – Large medieval hall with a wooden vault decorated with 1,728 painted coats of arms, including those of families allied to the counts of Forez.
- Operated by
- Société historique et archéologique du Forez (La Diana)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €2.50 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 11 · Free admission for under-12s. |
| Guided tour (adult) | €5 |
Prices provided by the Loire Forez tourist office: €2.50 for a self-guided visit and €5 for a guided visit.
Accessibility
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Kids & families
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Getting there & parking
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Amenities & dining
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Events & venue rental
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Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Educational workshops “Découverte du musée archéologique” (a discovery rally of about 1 hour 30 minutes, duration adjustable) are offered to school classes, by reservation at +33 4 77 96 96 14; €110 per class and per activity. |
