Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Riez Lapidary Museum, now known as the Archaeological Museum, was founded in 1929 by Marcel Joannon (alias Marcel Provence). From its very beginning, he occupied the Paleo-Christian Baptistery of the city, an emblematic building of the local religious heritage. The collections, mainly composed of Gallo-Roman furniture (steles, altars, architectural elements), were exhibited there for almost a century before being moved for conservation reasons.

At present, archaeological objects are distributed at two reserve sites, where they have been restored for future reorganization. In the short term, these collections should be grouped into a single suitable storage site, optimized for preservation. In a second stage, a redeployment project is planned in a private hotel in the old center of Riez, offering a framework more suitable for their public valuation.

The museum benefits from the label "Musée de France" and is distinguished by its exceptional set of stone pieces, witness to the historical richness of the region. Although its current location on the Route de Marseille (near Germany-en-Provence) is approximate, its territorial anchor remains marked by its link with the former Riez-la-Romane, Gallo-Roman administrative capital of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. The telephone (04 92 72 22 43) and website (www.museums-mediterranee.org) provide practical information.

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