Musée lapidaire d'Avignon

About the museum

Since 1933 the Musée lapidaire d’Avignon has displayed the town’s ancient works, which had previously been shown in the medieval hall and the courtyard of the Musée Calvet. It is an annex of the Musée Calvet and belongs to the Fondation Calvet. The collection goes back to the cabinet of curiosities of Esprit Calvet (1728–1810), founder of the Musée Calvet. It then grew through purchases, notably in 1841 with part of the Venetian Nani di San Trovaso collection, and through gifts such as that of the collector Marcel Puech in 1986.

The museum occupies the former chapel of the Jesuit college, a Baroque building designed by Étienne Martellange and built by François de Royers de La Valfenière. Work began in 1620 and the consecration took place in 1655. The plan is very plain, but the frieze above the galleries is richly sculpted. The building has been listed as a historic monument since 1928.

In the nave, the left side displays Greek funerary and votive reliefs, Attic, Corinthian and South Italian vases, and terracottas. The right side shows sculptures from imperial Rome, including a large statue of a draped woman from the collection of Cardinal Richelieu. The Celtic section brings together outstanding pieces such as the Tarasque of Noves and the Warrior of Mondragon. Inscriptions, statues and architectural elements from Roman Gaul, discovered in the Vaucluse, complete the route, as does a selection of Egyptian works that arrived from the Musée Calvet in 2018.

Highlights

• Baroque Jesuit chapel, listed as a historic monument
• The Tarasque of Noves and the Warrior of Mondragon
• Funerary reliefs and Greek vases
• Statues from imperial Rome, including a piece from the Richelieu collection
• Free admission

Permanent exhibition

• Collection permanente du musée lapidaire – Greek, Roman, Gaulish and Egyptian antiquities, presented in the nave of the former Jesuit chapel.

Founded

1933

Operated by

Ville d'Avignon (annexe du musée Calvet, Fondation Calvet)

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

The museum is open to everyone and free of charge.

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