Comprehensive museum of Aquitaine's history from prehistory to the present, including an extraordinary collection of Roman-era gold artifacts and medieval Bordeaux
The Musée d'Aquitaine, situated on Cours Pasteur in the centre of Bordeaux in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, is the principal historical and archaeological museum of the Gironde and one of the most important regional history museums in France. Housed in a former university faculty building, the museum's permanent collection spans 25,000 years of human settlement in the Aquitaine basin, from the Upper Palaeolithic to the 20th century. The prehistoric galleries on the ground floor present exceptional Upper Palaeolithic artefacts from the Périgord and Basque Country, including the celebrated Venus de Laussel, a 25,000-year-old carved bas-relief of a female figure holding a bison horn, one of the most significant Palaeolithic artworks in the world. The Gallo-Roman section occupies several large halls and displays extraordinary gold and silver treasures from the Roman city of Bordeaux (Burdigala), including the Trésors de Berthiaume, a hoard of Roman gold coins and jewellery, as well as monumental funerary sculptures, inscriptions, and everyday objects from the 1st–4th centuries AD. Medieval Bordeaux is represented through architectural fragments, church furnishings, and merchant objects from the prosperous wine-trading city of the 12th–15th centuries. A major section addresses the Atlantic slave trade and Bordeaux's role as one of France's principal slaving ports from the 17th to the early 19th century — a frank and well-documented treatment that has set a precedent for historical transparency in French regional museums. The museum also covers the early modern and modern periods of Aquitaine's history, including material culture from the Landes, Basque Country, and Périgord. Admission is free, and the museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 11:00 to 18:00.
| Admission | Free |
|---|---|
| Hours | 11AM-6PM Tue-Sun |
Highlights
- Venus de Laussel — a 25,000-year-old Palaeolithic bas-relief carved in limestone, one of the most important prehistoric artworks in the world
- Gallo-Roman treasury: gold coins, jewellery, and silver objects from the Roman city of Burdigala (Bordeaux), displayed in dedicated vaults
- Honest, extensively documented section on Bordeaux's role in the Atlantic slave trade — a landmark in French regional museum practice
- Prehistoric galleries covering 25,000 years of Aquitaine prehistory, with Palaeolithic tools, carved objects, and faunal remains from the Périgord
- Free admission to the permanent collection, making it one of Bordeaux's best-value major cultural institutions
Tips for visiting
- Admission is free; the museum is open Tuesday to Sunday 11:00–18:00 and closed on Mondays
- The Venus de Laussel is on the ground floor in the prehistoric gallery — the single most important object in the collection and worth spending time with
- Free guided tours in French are offered on weekend afternoons; English-language group tours can be booked in advance through the museum
- Allow at least 2 hours for the prehistoric and Gallo-Roman galleries alone; a full visit covering all periods takes 3 hours
- The museum shop stocks high-quality art books and reproductions of the Venus de Laussel and Roman gold pieces
When to visit
The museum is a good wet-weather option year-round. Weekday mornings are the quietest; weekend afternoons attract guided tour groups. The free admission makes a spontaneous visit on any weekday feasible without planning.
Accessibility
The Musée d'Aquitaine is wheelchair-accessible throughout the permanent collection floors, with lifts connecting all levels and ramp access at the main entrance on Cours Pasteur. Accessible toilets are available on the ground floor. Audio descriptions for visually impaired visitors can be requested in advance.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Musée d'Aquitaine free to visit?
Yes. The permanent collection is free for all visitors. Temporary exhibitions carry a separate admission charge, typically €5–€8.
How long does a full visit take?
A thorough visit covering the prehistoric, Gallo-Roman, medieval, slave trade, and early modern sections takes approximately 2.5 to 3 hours. Visitors focusing on the prehistoric and Roman galleries can complete a satisfying visit in 90 minutes.
Are English-language resources available?
Many gallery labels include English translations alongside French. English-language audioguides are not permanently available, but English-language guided tours for groups can be arranged in advance. The museum shop sells English-language catalogues.