Musée départemental Arles antique

Over het museum

The people of Arles have taken an interest in their city’s ancient remains since the 16th century, when collectors began gathering coins, inscriptions and sculptures. In 1784, clergy opened the first public antiquities museum in the former necropolis of the Alyscamps. In the 19th century, the excavation of the ancient amphitheatre and theatre greatly enriched the collections, which were then spread across two former churches, including the Jesuit church, where a lapidarium was set up in 1936.

In the 1960s it became clear that a single new museum, built outside the historic centre, was needed to bring the collections together. The site chosen was that of the Roman circus, then still being excavated. From 1983 the architect Henri Ciriani designed a triangular building whose façades are covered with blue panels; the museum opened in 1995 and is run by the Bouches-du-Rhône Departmental Council.

The chronological and thematic route runs from the Neolithic to Late Antiquity. In 2013, an extension was added to house the Gallo-Roman barge Arles-Rhône 3, discovered in the Rhône after the 2003 flood and raised from the water in 2011. The museum also has an archaeological department, a restoration workshop specialising in ancient mosaics and a documentation centre.

Hoogtepunten

• Gallo-Roman barge Arles-Rhône 3, displayed in a dedicated wing
• Presumed bust of Julius Caesar and ancient sculptures
• Models of Arles’s Roman monuments, including the circus
• Mosaics, sarcophagi and everyday objects
• Blue building by Henri Ciriani and the Hortus garden in the Roman style

Vaste collectie

• Collections permanentes – A route in seven zones, from prehistory to Late Antiquity: Arles before the Romans, the Roman colony, the river port, craftsmanship, daily life, funerary rites and the Christian city.
• Chaland Arles-Rhône 3 – The wreck of a flat-bottomed Roman boat, found in the Rhône and displayed in the wing added to the museum in 2013.
• Jardin Hortus – A garden in the Roman style next to the museum, with a picnic area and a drinking fountain.

Opgericht

1995

Beheerder

Département des Bouches-du-Rhône

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

Gratis toegang: Free admission on the first Sunday of every month.

Also free, on proof: job seekers, RSA recipients, teachers (Pass Éducation), journalists, museum curators, ICOM members, Ministry of Culture staff, tour guides, members of the Amis du Vieil Arles and holders of the Culture du cœur voucher. The Pass monuments arlésiens are sold at the museum ticket desk.

Toegankelijkheid

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

Ramps from the car park to the collections and the auditorium; wheelchairs and seat-sticks lent free of charge; induction loop at reception, in the auditorium and on the audio guides; subtitled films; magnifying glasses at reception; audio guide adapted for visually impaired visitors; five reserved parking spaces. Tactile tours with a model of the barge and tours in French Sign Language are available. The Hortus garden is reached by a ramp. Animals are not allowed, except guide dogs and assistance dogs.

Kinderen & gezin

Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen

• Gezinsrondleidingen & workshops
• Speurtocht, doeboekje of kinderaudiotour
• Kinderwagenvriendelijk
• Verschoonruimte
• Speeltuin / speelhoek

Arkéofil app on tablet for children from age 6, the “Mon parcours jeux” puzzle booklet (ages 8 to 12), a fabric book for 1- to 3-year-olds and an area for children aged 6 to 14 with books and games. Tours for 3- to 5-year-olds, “Jeux te raconte” tours (ages 6 to 12), family Sundays, workshops and courses during school holidays. Strollers are allowed, baby-changing table in the toilets, bottle warming on request; public garden with play equipment nearby.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

The museum is on the Presqu’île du Cirque romain, about a 15-minute walk from the Place du Forum and 20 minutes from the amphitheatre. Cycle path from the quays; the free Hopla! bike shuttle does not go as far as the museum.

Service & horeca

• Museumwinkel
• Kluisjes
• Wifi

Free Wi-Fi. Self-service lockers at the entrance. Relaxation area with snack and drinks machines in the hall. Bookshop-boutique. Picnic areas near the museum.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

Het museum heeft hierover geen informatie gepubliceerd.

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