Located in the heart of archaeological remains and inscribed in the continuity of the landscape, the Saint-Romain-en-Gal Museum in Vienne (France) is a real must for anyone passionate about history, architecture, and Gallo-Roman mosaics!
Every year, the museum and Gallo-Roman archaeological site attracts, just 30 km south of Lyon on the right bank of the Rhône, over 80,000 visitors, including scientists, archaeologists, visual artists, musicians, and curious visitors who come to discover this exceptional heritage.
Discovered in 1967 during the construction of a high school, this archaeological site—now ranked among the most important in France—offers visitors the restored remains of the residential and commercial district of the 1st and 4th centuries AD of ancient Vienna.
At the time, Vienna was the capital of a vast territory covering Dauphiné and Savoy. All this spans over 3 hectares open to the public!
Philippe Chaix and Jean-Paul Morel, winners of the architects’ competition, perfectly met the requirements of a museum of archaeology to ensure the presentation, study, and conservation of the collections through the creation of a museum composed of two architecturally distinct buildings.
The first is the reception building. It includes all the primary functions of the museum: ticketing, temporary exhibitions, a shop and restaurant, as well as a research center and a mosaic restoration workshop.
Along the river, built on stilts above a Roman house, stands the permanent exhibition building.
Its airy and lightweight design contrasts with the imposing concrete structure of the first building, to which it is connected by a transparent walkway.
Open to the public since 1996, the museum covers 12,000 m² where visitors can discover the Roman era and the ancient art of living: the city and its shops, the craftsmen’s know-how, the wealth and comfort of the houses, and the exceptional treasure of ancient mosaics and frescoes found on this site.