Musée cantonal d’archéologie et d’histoire

About the museum

The roots of the museum lie in the Musée des Antiquités, founded in 1852 at the Lausanne Academy. It became the Musée archéologique in 1877 and the Musée historique in 1908; it has borne its present name since 1955. The unusual combination “archaeology and history” is based not on a boundary between periods, but on how the objects came to the museum: finds from excavations on the one hand, donations, bequests and purchases on the other.

Archaeology is by far the most important source of growth, with two to three thousand inventory numbers added every year. Since 1912 excavation finds have belonged to the canton, and since 1973 a cantonal archaeological service has ensured a supply from ground research. The historical holdings come mainly from cantonal property, for example from the Château de Chillon, the Château Saint-Maire and Lausanne Cathedral, and are in part permanently displayed there.

The museum is housed in the Palais de Rumine, a neo-Florentine building that opened in 1906 and was financed with the bequest of Gabriel de Rumine. In 2019 the canton’s coin and medal collections were added, previously run as the Musée monétaire cantonal. In the permanent exhibition, three halls lead from prehistory through history to the history of money.

Highlights

• Permanent exhibition on the prehistory of Vaud from the end of the last Ice Age to the Bronze Age (from about 15,000 BC)
• History hall from the Celts to the present day
• Coin and medal collection, one of the most important in Switzerland, with interactive history of money
• Audio-described trail “Trésors dévoilés” with tactile models
• Free permanent exhibition in the neo-Florentine Palais de Rumine

Permanent exhibitions

• Vorgeschichte (Salle Frédéric Troyon) und Geschichte (Salle Albert Naef) – The prehistory of Vaud from the last hunter-gatherers to the Bronze Age, and history from the Celts to today, arranged thematically and chronologically.
• Par ici la monnaie ! – In the Colin Martin hall the museum shows coins and medals and uses an interactive demonstration to explain how money works and how power and economy shifted in Europe.

Founded

1852

Operated by

Kanton Waadt

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Every first Saturday of the month.

The ticket is valid for all temporary exhibitions in the Palais de Rumine. The permanent exhibitions are free of charge.

Accessibility

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

Access for wheelchair users and strollers via the north pergola on Rue de l’Université with a special lift to the main lifts; a reserved parking space there for holders of a disability card. The “Trésors dévoilés” trail combines audio-described commentary with tactile reproductions of seven objects from the MCAH and Naturéum.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly

Flash tours (30 minutes) for ages 8 and over with an accompanying adult; the permanent coin exhibition has an interactive money demonstration. Wheelchair and stroller access via the north pergola.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit