Musée forum de l'Aurignacien

About the museum

The museum opened in 1969 in Aurignac, a village in Haute-Garonne that gave the Aurignacian its name. Jean-Baptiste Bonnemaison discovered there the entrance to a rock shelter containing a collective burial; he removed the bones from a rabbit burrow. The excavations later carried out by Édouard Lartet yielded stone tools, reindeer-antler tools and remains of extinct animals, which helped to prove how ancient prehistoric humans were. The site was shown at the 1867 Exposition Universelle and listed as a historic monument in 1921. The Aurignacian is the earliest material culture of modern humans in Europe, dating from between 38,000 and 28,000 years ago.

Since 2014, the museum has occupied a new, bright, single-storey building, inaugurated in April 2015, at the edge of the village. The completely renewed displays present Ice Age fauna, the survival methods of prehistoric peoples and objects from Aurignac and other famous Aurignacian sites, with maps, friezes, replicas, drawings and videos.

A forest trail links the museum to the prehistoric rock shelter where the discovery was made. The museum is a public institution with the “Musée de France” label, run by a mixed syndicate made up of the Haute-Garonne Département and the Cœur et Coteaux du Comminges community of municipalities. It runs demonstration workshops, temporary exhibitions and events on prehistory.

Highlights

• Objects from the excavations at Aurignac and other famous Aurignacian sites
• Ice Age fauna, personal ornaments, hunting weapons and figurines
• Interpretive trail to the prehistoric rock shelter at Aurignac
• Free audio guide in French, Spanish and German, with audio description
• Workshops on flint knapping, fire lighting and cave art during the school holidays

Permanent exhibitions

• Exposition permanente sur les Aurignaciens – Objects from the excavations at Aurignac and other sites, including Ice Age fauna, weapons, ornaments, maps, replicas and videos.
• Sentier vers l'abri préhistorique – Forest walk with information stops leading to the discovery site of the Aurignacian.

Founded

1969

Operated by

Syndicat mixte (Département de la Haute-Garonne et communauté de communes Cœur et Coteaux du Comminges)

Director

Sébastien Marzin

Admission & discounts

The price list gives the adult rate with the note “pass annuel”. According to the price list, the guided group visit (minimum 10 people) carries no per-person supplement.

Accessibility

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

The museum holds the “Tourisme et Handicap” label and received the “Patrimoines pour tous” award in 2019. It is single-level from the car park to the rooms and has adapted toilets. Walking-stick seats are lent at reception. A tactile case, a large-print visitor guide with a raised-relief map and Braille, and an easy-read booklet are available free of charge. The reception is equipped with an induction loop. A guided tour in French Sign Language is possible on request; it must be booked two months in advance, and the interpreter fees are paid by the group. Groups with wheelchair users are limited to 5 or 6 people.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

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

Activity booklets are available at reception, including “Sur la piste des empreintes”, for following the footprints of prehistoric animals along the trail. During school holidays, the mediators run demonstration and making workshops (flint knapping, fire lighting, ornaments, cave art, clay modelling).

Getting there & parking

By car via the A64, exit 21 Aurignac; the museum is about 1 hour from Toulouse and Tarbes. You can leave your bike on the museum’s shaded terrace. A forest trail of about 1.5 km leads from the museum to the prehistoric rock shelter.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Shop selling books, games, soft toys, figurines, excavation kits and replicas of prehistoric objects.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit