Musée gallo-romain Claracq-Lalonquette

About the museum

The Musée gallo-romain Claracq-Lalonquette opened in 2012 and received the “Musée de France” label in 2017. It presents itself as the only site museum in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department devoted entirely to archaeology. It is run by the Communauté de communes des Luys en Béarn and was renovated in 2020: the sequence of rooms is inspired by the peristyle, the covered courtyard of Roman houses.

The museum displays the finds from the villa of Lalonquette, in the Gabas valley: a coin hoard, jewelry, pottery, painted wall plaster and restored mosaics. It also includes a gallery for temporary exhibitions and an educational room with a module introducing excavation. A 3D animated film, shown since July 1, 2022, reconstructs a 4th-century rural palace.

The villa was occupied for more than five centuries, from the beginning of the Common Era to the 5th century. It was first mentioned on September 13, 1843 in the Mémorial des Pyrénées. The architect Jean Lauffray directed a major excavation from 1959 to 1972; research resumed in 2002 with the Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour, and a conservation and enhancement program was completed in 2018. The remains mainly concern the residential part of the estate, which covered about 2 hectares. The site is open to the public with a contemporary presentation.

Highlights

• Finds from the Lalonquette villa: coin hoard, jewelry, pottery, painted plaster
• Restored mosaics from the villa
• 3D animated film about a 4th-century rural palace
• Educational room with a module introducing excavation
• Villa site open free all year, interpretive trail and free audio guides

Permanent exhibitions

• Parcours permanent du musée gallo-romain – Rooms arranged like a peristyle, with finds from the Lalonquette villa and a 3D animated film about a 4th-century rural palace.
• Villa antique de Lalonquette – Remains of the residential part of a large estate occupied from the beginning of the Common Era to the 5th century, visible free of charge.

Founded

2012

Operated by

Communauté de communes des Luys en Béarn

Visitors per year

approx. 3,458

Admission & discounts

The site of the Lalonquette ancient villa can be visited freely and at no cost all year round; the guided visit of the villa is by appointment only. Audio guides are free via the izi.TRAVEL app. Payment by card, check, cash or ANCV holiday vouchers (chèques-vacances).

Accessibility

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

The museum holds the “Tourisme et Handicap” label. It has ramps, handrails, adjustable audio guides and tactile models; adapted guided tours are offered by reservation.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

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

Creative workshops on antiquity for children during school holidays, by reservation. The connected trail offers a quiz and slideshows suited to families; the educational room lets visitors try their hand at archaeological excavation.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

Picnicking is possible in the château park or, in bad weather, in the foyer rural (village hall).

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit