Musée Joseph Déchelette
Museum in Roanne housed in an 18th-century mansion, closed to the public for renovation until mid-2030.
No sound? Check your device’s silent switch.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Roanne’s first museum opened in 1844, after the archaeologist Fleury Mulsant donated his collection to the former Capuchin convent. In 1874 it was moved to the attic of the new town hall. The archaeologist Joseph Déchelette (1862–1914), curator for twenty-two years, reorganised the collections and in 1896 bought the former mansion built around 1787–1789 for Claude Valence de Minardière, where he set up his library.
After Madame Déchelette’s death in 1957, the museum expanded to the whole of the Hôtel de Valence. The salon d’honneur, the roofs and the façades were listed in the supplementary inventory of historic monuments in 1982. The museum holds more than 45,000 objects: Gallic and Gallo-Roman archaeology of the ancient town of Rodumna, prehistory, Egyptian antiquities, paintings from the 15th to the 20th century, including the work of Jean Puy, sculptures, drawings and prints, Roanne faience and a collection of Revolutionary-period faience, industrial and textile collections, and natural sciences.
The museum closed to individual visitors after the European Heritage Days in September 2026 for a restructuring and extension project. Works are planned from the last quarter of 2027 for about three years, with reopening announced for around mid-2030.
Highlights
- Gallic and Gallo-Roman archaeology of Rodumna, including painted bowls
- Faience collection, with an ensemble of Revolutionary-period faience
- Paintings from the 15th to the 20th century and a room devoted to Jean Puy
- Egyptian antiquities
- Late 18th-century mansion, partly protected
- Founded
- 1844
- Operated by
- Ville de Roanne
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €5 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €2.80Students of fine arts and archaeology, recipients of social minima, holders of the Roanne’Activ card, groups of 10 people or more |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 25 · Free admission for under-26s. |
| Groups (10+ people) | €2.80 per personReduced rate for groups of 10 people or more. |
Free admission: Every Wednesday afternoon and the first Sunday of each month
These prices applied before the closure to the public; future rates have not yet been set.
Accessibility
The museum is closed to the public for renovation; reopening is announced for around mid-2030.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 25 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
Workshops for ages 3–7 (€3, €1.50 with the Roanne’Activ card, accompanying adult free) and for ages 8–15 (€8, €3 with the card). The “Vacances en famille” programme now takes place off-site, for example at the Théâtre. La Palette des Petits is reserved for early-childhood professionals until June 2027.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Carrefour Helvétique
STAR bus lines 1, 2, 3 and 4, “Carrefour Helvétique” stop; Roanne railway station is a 5-minute walk away.
By car
Parking possible nearby: Place de l’Hôtel de Ville, rue des Minimes, rue de la Berge and rue Benoît Malon.
Amenities & dining
The museum is closed to the public for renovation; reopening is announced for around mid-2030.
Events & venue rental
Before the closure, the museum offered breakfasts, buffets or cocktail dinners in the museum, the courtyard or the garden, with a private visit, on quotation.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Before the closure, guided tours were offered: “Happy Hour” (one Friday a month, 18:30–19:15), a gourmet tour (one Monday a month, 16:00–17:00) and a tour on the first Sunday of the month (15:00 and 16:00). Groups and school classes book in advance (two weeks for a guided tour). |
