Musée Sainte-Croix

About the museum

The Musée Sainte-Croix stands on the site of the former Sainte-Croix abbey in Poitiers. The present building was designed by the architect Jean Monge (1916–1991) and opened on December 21, 1974, under the name “Centre culturel Sainte-Croix”. It received a European architecture prize in 1976.

In the Brutalist style, the building is largely underground and built of raw concrete and tinted glass, so as to blend into the historic district.

The archaeological collections range from prehistory to the early Middle Ages: Magdalenian engravings, Neolithic tools, Bronze Age hoards, Iron Age chariot burials, Gallo-Roman remains from Limonum and Romanesque sculpture.

The fine arts department holds paintings from the 14th century to early 20th-century modern art, with Italian, Northern and French works, 19th-century academic art and artists such as Bonnard, Vuillard, Sisley and Marquet. The museum also keeps the Camille Claudel ensemble and the wooden dragon La Grand’Goule.

Highlights

• Archaeological collections from prehistory to the early Middle Ages
• Gallo-Roman remains from Limonum and Romanesque sculpture
• Paintings from the 14th century to modern art
• Camille Claudel collection
• Wooden dragon La Grand’Goule
• Brutalist architecture by Jean Monge, awarded in 1976

Permanent exhibitions

• Collections archéologiques – From the Palaeolithic to the early Middle Ages, the route presents engravings, tools, Bronze Age treasures, chariot burials and Gallo-Roman remains.
• Beaux-arts et collection Camille Claudel – Paintings from the 14th century to modern art and a collection devoted to Camille Claudel are shown in the fine arts galleries.

Founded

1974

Operated by

Ville de Poitiers

Visitors per year

approx. 39,060

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Free admission every Tuesday and on the first Sunday of each month.

Also free for recipients of minimum social benefits, members of ICOM and of friends-of-museums societies, holders of the Joker, Culture and Musées de Poitiers cards, licensed guides, teachers and journalists on assignment.

Accessibility

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

The main entrance at 61 rue Saint-Simplicien meets accessibility standards for people with reduced mobility; reception, the ground floor and the temporary exhibition room are wheelchair-accessible, but the upper floors are not, because of the many stairs. Accessible parking is available on rue Saint-Simplicien and rue Paschal-Lecoq. Assistance dogs are admitted with proof. Mediation sessions suited to visitors with motor, sensory, intellectual or psychological disabilities are available for groups on request. Some exhibitions have guided tours in French Sign Language.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

Playful workshops and activity-visits for children aged 3 to 12 are organized during school holidays (the “Croqu’musées” programme). Admission is free for young people up to 17 and for adults accompanying a child during an educational activity.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

The auditorium (11 rue Pascal-Lecoq) can be rented; requests are made through the contact form or by phone.

Plan your visit