Musée gallo-romain de Saint-Romain-en-Gal
On-site museum on the banks of the Rhône, presenting daily life in the Gallo-Roman city of Vienna and an ancient quarter excavated over seven hectares.
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About the museum
It had long been known that the right bank of the Rhône, opposite Vienne, had been inhabited in Roman times, but only a few isolated villas were imagined there. In 1967, a large excavation carried out before the construction of a lycée revealed an entire residential quarter of the Roman colony of Vienna, with luxurious houses, baths, shops, workshops and warehouses. The site was later acquired by the Département du Rhône and listed as a historic monument in 1983.
Programmed excavations were carried out without interruption from 1981 to 2001. They uncovered a large monumental complex from the 1st century, on which one of the largest known funerary monuments in Gaul was built in the 4th century.
To preserve, study and display this discovery, the Département had an on-site museum built, which opened in 1996. The architects Philippe Chaix and Jean-Paul Morel designed two contemporary buildings that rise above the remains, with a total floor area of more than 12,000 m².
The museum’s inventory includes nearly 3,950 objects, among them mosaics, wall paintings, statues and many objects in ceramic, bone, glass and metal. Some 1,160 pieces are shown in the permanent display. The museum bears the label “Musée de France” and remains a place of research, as excavations continue every year.
Highlights
- Roman mosaics, including the Mosaic of the Seasons
- Remains of a residential quarter of Vienna across seven hectares
- Wall paintings, statues and objects of everyday life
- Tactile and audio-described route through the permanent collections
- 300-metre accessible path through the heart of the remains
Permanent exhibition
- Collections permanentes – Some 1,160 objects show everyday life in Vienna: mosaics, wall paintings, statues and everyday objects, in a building that rises above the remains.
- Founded
- 1996
- Operated by
- Département du Rhône
- Director
- Émilie Alonso
- Visitors per year
- approx. 85,450
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €8 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €4Students, holders of the Pass éducation, large families and groups of 10 or more people (proof dated within the last 6 months) |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 18 · Free for young people up to 18, with proof. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · Free for visitors with disabilities and one accompanying person, with proof. |
| Students & apprentices | €4With proof dated within the last 6 months. |
| Groups (10+ people) | €4 per personBooking required. |
| Families | €4Reduced rate for large families. |
| Annual pass, full price | €20 |
| Annual pass, reduced rate (students, Pass éducation, large families) | €10 |
| Commented visit (per person) | €3€3 to €4 depending on length; free for children under 7 |
| Workshop (per person) | €5 |
| Visioguide | €2While stocks last |
Free admission: First Sunday of every month
Free admission is also available for archaeologists, journalists, holders of the ICOM card, job seekers and recipients of the RSA (French minimum income benefit). Special offers apply with the Pass’Région jeunes, the Lyon City Card, the Pass Atout Beaujolais, CEZAM cards and Les Gnolus. Standard ANCV holiday vouchers are accepted.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials
- Audio description
In 2023 the museum received the national Tourisme & Handicap label for all four types of disability. The entrance is reached by a ramp and automatic doors; lifts and platform lifts serve the floors and the archaeological site. A stabilised 300-metre path allows visitors to move among the remains. Wheelchairs, seat-canes and anti-fatigue mobility seats are lent at reception; induction loops are available. Easy-to-read and easy-to-understand booklets are offered.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 18 |
|---|---|
| Family ticket | €4 · Reduced rate for large families. |
- Family tours & workshops
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
- Baby changing facilities
- Playground / play area
A special children’s route from age 7 on the visioguide. Family workshops, flash visits, storytelling and shows, programmes during school holidays, and the “Ma colo antique” holiday stay. The museum holds the national “Le Choix des familles” label. Bottle warmers and nursing cushions are available at reception. Two educational play spaces (games and reading) and two picnic areas are available.
Getting there & parking
By car
Parking available · 200 m to the entrance
Parking at the Stade Nautique, about 200 metres away. Two accessible parking spaces near the entrance forecourt.
- Accessible parking
A drop-off zone in front of the museum is available for large vehicles.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Restaurant
- Museum shop
The “L’aRÔme antique” shop is open Wednesday to Sunday from 11:00 until the museum closes. Two picnic areas are available.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Corporate events
Flexible indoor and outdoor spaces with views of the archaeological site and the Rhône, for seminars, conferences, cocktails or dinners.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes (FR, DE, EN, ES, IT) |
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Visioguides in five languages, with a children’s route from age 7 in French and English. Free apps Eo Vienna and MyOrpheo. Commented visits and paid workshops by reservation. |
