Musée de préhistoire régionale Stanislas Bonfils
Municipal museum in Menton devoted to European prehistory, from the Vallonnet site to the Iron Age, with an emphasis on the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region.
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About the museum
The museum dates back to a decision of the Menton municipal council of May 29, 1878. It grew out of a private natural history collection begun in 1867 by the Menton naturalist Stanislas Bonfils, whose name it bears.
The current building opened in 1909. In 1988 the institution took the name Musée de préhistoire régionale, with an exhibition designed by Henry de Lumley. Gérard Onoratini subsequently enriched the collections, and the permanent exhibition was renovated in 2022.
The route presents European prehistory from its beginnings to the Iron Age, focusing on the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region and a few pieces from Liguria. Since 2008, an underwater archaeology area, created with the Anoa association, has displayed objects linked to Mediterranean sea routes.
Highlights
- Grotte du Vallonnet in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, one of the oldest prehistoric sites in Europe (about 1.2 million years old)
- Terra Amata handaxe from Nice, about 400,000 years old
- Neolithic material from the region
- Mediterranean underwater archaeology, including an ancient anchor stock
Permanent exhibition
- Exposition permanente de préhistoire régionale – A route through European prehistory from its beginnings to the Iron Age, centered on the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, from the Vallonnet site to the Neolithic collections.
- Founded
- 1878
- Operated by
- Ville de Menton
- Visitors per year
- approx. 13,378
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €3 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €2.25Adults aged 65 and over, students, teachers, large families |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Free admission for under-18s. |
| Seniors | €2.25From age 65. |
| Students & apprentices | €2.25 |
| Groups (10+ people) | €1.50 per personGroups of individual visitors of 10 or more, and professional partners. |
| Families | €2.25Reduced rate for large families. |
| Guided tour with a conference guide (supplement to admission) | €4First Wednesday of the month at 14:30, duration 45 minutes. |
Free admission: First Sunday of the month: free admission for everyone.
Other groups are also entitled to free admission; the list is available by phone.
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 · approx. 45 min |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Group tours by reservation. Tour with a guide from the Service du Patrimoine on the first Wednesday of the month at 14:30 (€4 in addition to admission). On some first Sundays of the month, commented tours linked to the exhibitions at 15:00. |
