Musée Vesunna

About the museum

In 1959 excavations in the heart of the ancient town of Périgueux uncovered a large Gallo-Roman house, the domus of Vésone. Inhabited from the 1st to the 3rd century, it was arranged around a central garden and included rooms heated by hypocaust, a kitchen, reception rooms and baths, with rich wall paintings.

The first collection dates from 1835: Count Wlgrin de Taillefer had gathered ancient blocks reused in the late town wall, and they formed the nucleus of the departmental archaeological museum. At the start of the 20th century the engineer Charles Durand gave the museum the objects from the excavations of the Tour de Vésone, the great temple of the Roman city.

In 1993 the City of Périgueux launched an architectural competition to protect the remains, display them to the public and install a museum there. The architect Jean Nouvel designed a large roof floating above the ancient walls, with galleries offering views over 2,400 m² of remains. The Vesunna museum opened on July 12, 2003.

Today this Musée de France tells the story of the city of the Pétrucores, from its founding at the end of the 1st century BC to its retreat behind a rampart at the end of the 3rd century. The Vésone park surrounds the building and preserves the remains of the Tour de Vésone and the amphitheatre.

Highlights

• Domus of Vésone, a Gallo-Roman house with wall paintings and hypocaust heating
• Jean Nouvel’s building with views over 2,400 m² of remains
• Collections of the city of the Pétrucores, from the 1st century BC to the 3rd century
• Vésone park with the Tour de Vésone and the amphitheatre
• “Vésone et le dragon” treasure hunt and children’s audio guide

Permanent exhibitions

• La domus de Vésone – A large Gallo-Roman house from the 1st to the 3rd century, preserved beneath the building, with its wall paintings, garden and heated rooms.
• Collections de la cité des Pétrucores – Carved blocks, wall paintings, pottery and everyday objects tell the story of the ancient town of Vesunna.

Founded

2003

Operated by

Ville de Périgueux

Admission & discounts

Free admission: First Sunday of the month, except in June, July, August and September

Admission is also free for recipients of social minimum benefits, job seekers (certificate less than 6 months old), journalists, ICOM members and tour guides. Workshop or activity for children: €3 per person in addition to the school admission, free for classes from Périgueux.

Accessibility

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

Step-free access, lift, adapted toilets, reserved parking spaces, induction loop at reception, folding seats and a “flâneuse” (mobility scooter) available free of charge. A large-print, Braille and raised-line visit aid is offered; a simplified map helps visitors with intellectual disabilities. The museum holds the Tourisme et Handicap label, renewed in December 2023.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Baby changing facilities

Audio guide for ages 7 to 12, free activity booklet from age 7, and the “Vésone et le dragon” treasure hunt. Workshops for ages 3 to 6 and 7 to 12 during the school holidays of Zone A; booking recommended. Changing table available.

Getting there & parking

On entering Périgueux, follow the “Cité romaine” signs. Journey times given by the museum: Bordeaux 1 hour 15 minutes, Angoulême 1 hour, Brive-la-Gaillarde 1 hour, Limoges 1 hour 30 minutes.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Lockers

Shop with ancient reproductions, books and products inspired by Roman recipes. Free left-luggage: backpacks, luggage and bulky items must be deposited there. Picnic tables and benches in the Vésone park. Wi-Fi is provided for corporate events, but the website does not mention Wi-Fi for visitors.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Corporate events

Up to 150 guests.

Corporate evenings, seminars (up to 50 people) and cocktail receptions with buffet (up to 150 people), including a guided tour: €200 per hour for up to 50 people, €300 per hour for 50 to 150 people. No sit-down dinner. Quotes: vesunna@perigueux.fr.

Plan your visit