Musée de préhistoire de Lussac-les-châteaux

About the museum

The museum was born in 1979 with the founding of the association Les Amis du Pays de Lussac, which wanted to create a museum of local prehistory and history. It opened in 1982 in a Renaissance mansion in the town centre, became municipal in 1986 and received the designation “Musée de France” in 2006. Its collections grew through gifts and bequests, including those of Dr Pradel, Charles Hébras and André Chollet (Grotte du Bois-Ragot).

The new Musée de préhistoire was inaugurated on May 29, 2010 within La Sabline, a cultural centre that also houses the media library and the youth centre MJC 21. The building combines an old structure with a recent extension. The museum presents 368 m² of permanent exhibitions, with display cases, models, tactile casts, audiovisual media and hands-on activities.

The route through five spaces traces the life of Palaeolithic people in the Lussacois, roughly between 60,000 and 10,000 years ago: discoverers and discoveries, environment, prehistoric sites, life in the Grotte du Bois-Ragot and the art of engraving. The stone engravings from the La Marche and Les Fadets sites, which include realistic human figures, are the museum's special feature.

Highlights

• Route through five spaces on the Palaeolithic of the Lussacois
• Engraved stones from La Marche and Les Fadets
• Guided walks through the museum and the caves
• Route in French Sign Language on a tablet and booklets in easy-to-read language
• Free visit apps for smartphones

Permanent exhibition

• Parcours permanent : le Paléolithique du Lussacois – Five spaces on discoveries, environment, sites, life in the Grotte du Bois-Ragot and the art of engraving, with engraved stones from La Marche and Les Fadets.

Founded

1982

Operated by

Commune de Lussac-les-Châteaux

Visitors per year

approx. 7,616

Admission & discounts

Also free for teachers holding the Pass Éducation, group escorts, journalists on assignment, tour guides and members of ICOM or the Maison des artistes.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours
• Easy-to-read materials
• Audio description: no information

The museum is on the first floor, reached by lift. The site carries the “Tourisme et Handicap” label for all four types of disability (permanent exhibition). Wheelchairs are available, there is an induction loop at reception, and a reserved parking space is near the entrance. Route in French Sign Language on a tablet, booklets in easy-to-read and easy-to-understand language, and an adapted visit with tactile material on request.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations

Free activity booklet for children and families, workshops for young audiences and family activities. The route includes handling objects and tactile casts.

Getting there & parking

From Poitiers (40 km), take the N147 towards Limoges; from Châtellerault (50 km), take the D749 towards Chauvigny, then on to Lussac-les-Châteaux; from Limoges (80 km), take the N147 towards Bellac, then towards Poitiers.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop
• Lockers
• Wi-Fi

Free Wi-Fi in the reception and exhibition areas. Lockers at reception are not secured. Shop with books, postcards, jewellery, games and prehistory-themed soft toys. Water fountain at reception.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit