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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Lapidary Museum of Avignon is an annex to the Calvet Museum, dedicated to the city's archaeological collections. It is installed in the old Jesuit church, built in the early 17th century according to the plans of Étienne Martellange (1616), then entrusted to François de Royers de la Valfenière from 1620. He raised the walls to the edge of the nave. The building, classified as a historical monument since 1928, illustrates the religious architecture of the Counter-Reform.

The permanent collections cover several periods, from Prehistory to Paleo-Christian Antiquity, with major pieces such as Tarasque de Noves (Gaulian art) or accephalic Greek statues. The museum also offers temporary exhibitions, lectures and educational activities. It is managed by the Calvet Foundation, which supervises several Avignon museums, including the Petit Palais and the Requien Museum.

Notable works include Greek steles (such as the one by Menodotè or Glykon), paleo-Christian sarcophagus, and Gaulish objects such as the Warrior of Vachères. The building, originally chapel of the Jesuit College, reflects Avignon's cultural and religious heritage, while playing an active role in the dissemination of regional archaeological heritage.

The architecture of the museum, marked by its Jesuit history, and its eclectic collections make it a key place to understand the artistic and spiritual evolution of Provence, from antiquity to the Middle Ages. Its classification as a historic monument in 1928 underscores its heritage importance.

The museum is part of a wider network led by the Calvet Foundation, which preserves and values works ranging from archaeology to natural history. Its location at 27 rue de la République, in the centre of Avignon, makes it an accessible and central site for visitors.

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