Château-Musée de Bélesta

Over het museum

In 1983, residents of Bélesta discovered a collective burial in a cave, dating from around 4500 BCE. Some thirty skeletons lay there, accompanied by intact vessels placed as offerings. The excavations, led by archaeologist Françoise Claustre, also revealed traces of the cave's various occupants over more than 6000 years: remains of meals, hearths, weaving and livestock farming.

To show these finds to the public, the commune bought back the village's medieval castle, fortified by Louis IX. Lying between the Agly and Têt valleys, the castle served as a border landmark between the kingdoms of France and Aragon from 1258 to 1659. Parisian museum designers laid out a playful and educational route of about 1000 m² with display cases, dioramas, models and life-size reconstructions: excavation squares, a cast of the burial chamber and a reconstruction of part of the cave with figures.

The museum presents a different temporary exhibition each year. One area is devoted to the Scottish architect, designer and painter Charles Rennie Mackintosh, who lived in Roussillon from 1923 to 1927; it is part of the route of the interpretation centres on the Chemin de Mackintosh.

Hoogtepunten

• Intact Neolithic pottery placed as offerings, over 6500 years old
• Cast of the burial chamber and reconstruction of part of the cave
• Medieval castle fortified by Louis IX, a former border fortress
• Area devoted to Charles Rennie Mackintosh in Roussillon
• Free guided tour of the cave on Thursdays in July and August

Vaste collectie

• Collection permanente : le trésor de Bélesta et son contexte – Archaeological finds from the Cauna cave: pottery offered to the dead of the Middle Neolithic, worked bone, polished axes, grinding stones and other everyday objects.
• Espace Mackintosh – Route through the career of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, from architect and designer in Scotland to painter in Roussillon.

Directie

Tarek Kuteni

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

Payment by cheque or cash (according to the regional tourism portal). School groups pay €3.50 per pupil for a guided visit of the museum, €6 for a half day and €9 for a full day of activities.

Toegankelijkheid

Het museum heeft hierover geen informatie gepubliceerd.

Kinderen & gezin

Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen

• Gezinsrondleidingen & workshops
• Doe- en voelstations
• Kinderfeestjes

Fun summer activities for children to rediscover the gestures of Prehistory, children's workshops and birthday party packages.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

Via the RN 116 (route de Prades), from Millas or Ille-sur-Têt follow the signs for Bélesta, about 25 km from Perpignan. Via the RN 117 (route d'Estagel), from Estagel follow the signs for Millas.

Service & horeca

• Museumwinkel

Shop with local crafts, souvenirs, drinks and archaeology books. Picnic area with drinking water and toilets.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

Het museum heeft hierover geen informatie gepubliceerd.

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