Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Archaeological Museum of Minerve was created by local scholars and villagers. It houses a rich collection of fossils, including 500 million-year-old trilobites, discovered in the Brian Valley, as well as dinosaur remains. These pieces illustrate the region's exceptional geological history, with the oldest fossils in France. The Paleolithic flint tools, neolithic pottery and the trimmings of the local dolmens complete this first room dedicated to prehistory.

The second room traces the evolution of flint size techniques through ages and cultures. It highlights the cave of Aldena, famous for its prints and rock engravings, as well as the skulls of caves. A model reconstitutes the headquarters of Minerve in 1210 by Simon de Montfort, highlighting the strategic importance of the site in the Middle Ages. The exhibits, ranging from the Gaul era to the Wisigoth era, include modern ceramics and glassware from the excavations of the ramparts.

Archaeological excavations during the renovation of the ramparts have collected more than 6,000 artifacts, illuminating an uninterrupted human occupation for more than 6,000 years. These discoveries offer a complete panorama of life in the Minervois, from the first prehistoric settlements to medieval periods. The museum, labeled Musée de France, plays a key role in the preservation and enhancement of this local heritage.

The museum also aims to present the daily life of past populations through usual objects and funeral ornaments. The region's dolmens, Gallic tools and wisigothic traces illustrate the cultural diversity of the Minervois. The permanent exhibition, enriched by the works of Jean Miquel de Barroubio, offers a dive into the turbulent history of this valley, between conflicts, exchanges and human adaptations.

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