Muséum de l'Ardèche

About the museum

The Muséum de l'Ardèche opened to the public on April 18, 2016, in Balazuc, a medieval village listed among the Plus Beaux Villages de France. It grew out of the association Paléodécouvertes and is based on the collection of Bernard Riou, an Ardèche palaeontologist who walked the paths of the département for forty years. Before this museum, a small private palaeontology museum had existed in La Voulte-sur-Rhône from 1989 to 2006.

The building, designed by the agency Dessus Architecte, comprises two wings totalling 600 m², all on one level and air-conditioned. The permanent exhibition occupies a large open space of 200 m², where more than 600 pieces tell the story of life. A dinosaur gallery of about 90 m² was added in 2020; it presents skull replicas and original fossils to explain dinosaur classification and the survival of birds.

The collection comprises more than 6,000 inventoried items, some of great scientific value. It includes the oldest known octopus, discovered in 1982, the oldest chestnut of the Ardèche, and mummified fossils from the Coiron volcanism, eight million years old. Attendance rose from about 10,000 visitors in 2016 to about 25,000 in 2019.

Highlights

• Exceptionally well-preserved fossils from the Ardèche
• Oldest known octopus, discovered in 1982
• Mummified fossils from the Coiron volcanism
• Dinosaur gallery with skull replicas
• Digging and fossil-extraction workshops for children
• The medieval village of Balazuc nearby

Permanent exhibitions

• Exposition permanente sur l'histoire de la vie – More than 600 pieces from the collection of Bernard Riou, including exceptionally well-preserved fossils from the Ardèche.
• Galerie aux dinosaures – Skull replicas of large dinosaurs and original fossils, to explain their classification and the survival of birds.
• Fossiles momifiés du Coiron – Insects, reptiles and mammals eight million years old, linked to the Coiron volcanism.

Founded

2016

Visitors per year

approx. 25,000 (2019)

Admission & discounts

Extraction workshop (from age 5): €6 to €35 depending on the piece. Payment methods: cash, bank cards, ANCV holiday vouchers, Chèques culture and Chèque lire, Pass Culture, Pass Région and Pass Ardèche. The Pass Ardèche (€46 for 3 days, €60 for 6 days) gives access to 35 labelled sites.

Accessibility

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

The 2016 building is entirely at ground level, with toilets and routes designed for people with reduced mobility. Two reserved parking spaces are 5 metres from the entrance. The exhibition is air-conditioned.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Kids’ birthday parties

Digging workshops (from age 4, with an adult), fossil-extraction workshops (from age 5, with an accompanying adult) and virtual reality workshops (from age 8) in the dinosaur gallery. Birthday parties from 10 children. Astronomy evenings in summer.

Getting there & parking

Balazuc is about 15 minutes from Aubenas and 30 minutes from Vallon-Pont-d'Arc. Access on foot, by bike, by car, and by bus for groups. Motorhomes can reach the village via the D 579 outside July and August.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Ice-cream parlour with a shaded terrace, open in July and August (ice cream and local products). Reception shop of about 80 m² with books, games and geology items. Animals are admitted only in a bag or a pram.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit