Village of "Baigneurs" 2700 av. J.-C. (environ) (≈ 100 av. J.-C.)
Neolithic habitat swallowed under the lake.
1006–1038 ap. J.-C.
Medieval habitat of Colletière
Medieval habitat of Colletière 1006–1038 ap. J.-C. (≈ 1022)
Site searched near the shores of the lake.
1972
Beginning of archaeological excavations
Beginning of archaeological excavations 1972 (≈ 1972)
Sub-lake and terrestrial campaigns initiated.
février 2022
Planned reopening of the museum
Planned reopening of the museum février 2022 (≈ 2022)
New museumography after restoration of collections.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Origin and history
The Archaeological Museum of Lake Paladru, located near the lake in the commune of Charavines (Isère), presents the results of archaeological excavations carried out since 1972. Two major sites were discovered: the village of the "Baigneurs", dating from the late Neolithic period (c. 2700 BC), and the medieval settlement of Colletière, occupied between 1006 and 1038 BC. The exhibits, supplemented by models and audiovisual media, provide an overview of daily life during these two pivotal periods.
The collections, currently being restored, were previously housed in the Paladru Lake Country House. The museum, which was temporarily closed, was to reopen in February 2022 in a new form, with a museography redesigned to highlight archaeological discoveries. These include artifacts from sub-lake and terrestrial excavations, illustrating the evolution of lifestyles between Neolithic and Middle Ages in this alpine region.
The site benefits from the label Musée de France and is distinguished by its location on the shores of Lake Paladru, a natural setting closely linked to the history of local human occupations. The excavations revealed traces of engulfed habitats, reflecting the strategic and economic importance of the lake over the centuries, from the first sedentary communities to medieval settlements.
