Musée basque et de l'histoire de Bayonne

Over het museum

The museum emerged in the 1920s on the initiative of the City of Bayonne, which bought the Dagourette house in 1922 to bring together collections related to Basque tradition. It opened to the public in 1924 and was officially inaugurated in 1934. From 1954 the Direction des musées de France supervised it, and management was entrusted entirely to the City.

The Dagourette house, built at the end of the 16th or the beginning of the 17th century, has served in turn as a merchant’s residence, a temporary convent of the Visitandines, a civil hospital and finally a customs warehouse. Listed as a monument historique in 1991 and restored, its contemporary extension has allowed since 2001 an entirely renewed presentation on three levels around a large light well called Argialde.

The permanent route comprises about twenty themed rooms. It presents nearly 2,000 objects and paintings on rural and domestic life, funerary rites, crafts, maritime and river activities, festivals and games, and regional history. On the top floor, a relief model of the port of Bayonne in 1805 allows visitors to read the historic city.

The collections comprise about 85,000 objects, from prehistory to the second half of the 20th century, mostly donations: graphic documents, photographs and three-dimensional objects. The museum is run by a mixed syndicate and has a library and documentation centre in the north wing of the Château-Neuf.

Hoogtepunten

• Dagourette house, 17th-century port residence listed as a monument historique
• Permanent route of twenty themed rooms on Basque culture
• 1805 relief model of the port of Bayonne
• Pink tables with objects to touch and a sensory trail
• Collection of 50,000 photographs and graphic collections
• Specialist library in the Château-Neuf

Vaste collectie

• Exposition permanente – A route through twenty rooms on three levels presents Basque culture, from rural and maritime life to festivals and the history of Bayonne.

Opgericht

1924

Beheerder

Syndicat mixte du Musée Basque et de l'histoire de Bayonne

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

Gratis toegang: First Sunday of each month; Thursday from 18:00 to 20:00

Full-price admission to the Musée Basque or the Musée Bonnat Helleu entitles you to the reduced rate at the other for one week, on presentation of the first ticket. With proof, admission is also free for job seekers, recipients of minimum social benefits, tour guides, journalists, ICOM members and members of the Société des Amis du Musée Basque. Payment by card, cheque, cash and eusko.

Toegankelijkheid

• Rolstoeltoegankelijk
• Lift
• Aangepast toilet: geen informatie
• Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats: geen informatie
• Hulphonden welkom
• Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten
• Rondleidingen in gebarentaal: geen informatie
• Informatie in eenvoudige taal: geen informatie
• Audiodescriptie: geen informatie

The entire route and the temporary exhibitions are accessible to people with reduced mobility and to strollers, thanks to two lifts; step-free entrance on the left of the forecourt. Two wheelchairs and folding seats are lent at reception. Reception has an induction loop, large-print texts are available on request, and a sensory trail offers objects to touch, smell and listen to. The museum holds the Tourisme et Handicap (hearing, intellectual and visual disabilities) and Qualité Tourisme labels.

Kinderen & gezin

Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen

• Gezinsrondleidingen & workshops
• Speurtocht, doeboekje of kinderaudiotour
• Doe- en voelstations
• Kinderwagenvriendelijk
• Verschoonruimte
• Kinderfeestjes

The “Animaux” (animals) trail, in French or Basque, is available from age 2, and the “Ardi” trail is for children who can read. Pink tables offer objects to touch. The museum runs family treasure hunts, visit-workshops from age 5, workshops for 2- to 5-year-olds and birthday workshops.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

The museum is in the historic centre on the banks of the Nive, near the Sainte-Marie cathedral. By car from Biarritz-Anglet airport: about 18 minutes.

Service & horeca

• Museumwinkel
• Garderobe
• Kluisjes

Shop open to all. Coat check with a code lock is free for individual visitors, and there are group coat areas. Picnic area for school and after-school groups. The website does not mention Wi-Fi for visitors.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

• Ruimtes te huur

Some spaces can be rented by day or evening under certain conditions; enquire with the communications manager.

Je bezoek plannen