Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Archaeological Museum of Saint-Raphaël has its origin in the underwater and terrestrial excavations carried out in the region. Created in 1963 by F. Benoît as a research depot, it was transformed into a museum in 1968. A prehistory section was added in 1985, enriching his collections with objects dating from the Paleolithic, Neolithic and Metal Age, including stone tools, ceramics and bronze trimmings. Among the remarkable pieces is an engraved menhir representing a human figure and a snake, as well as objects from the local excavations and the avens of the Haut Var.

The museum is also a "site museum", integrated with a medieval church and its archaeological crypts. The latter reveal nearly 2,000 years of history, with remains of earlier buildings discovered during recent excavations. The crypts offer a spectacular view of progressive additions, while the sacristy exhibits funerary and architectural furniture, including religious objects and dedicatory bas-reliefs. The 14th century fortified tower, adjoining the church, offers an exceptional panorama of the sea, the Gulf of Fréjus-Saint-Raphaël and the Massif de l'Estérel.

A significant part of the collections come from underwater excavations near Agay, Antheor and Dramont. These discoveries include Gallo-Roman wrecks, including thirty vessels loaded with amphora and ceramics, demonstrating the importance of the region's ancient maritime heritage. These wrecks, sunk near pitfalls, place Saint-Raphael first for the richness and quality of his underwater heritage.

The museum is labeled "Museum of France" and is located in the parvis of the old church, rue des Templiers. Its exact address is linked to the code Insee 83118, in the department of Var, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. Although the GPS location is approximate (70 Rue de Châteaudun), the museum remains a key place to understand local history, from prehistory to medieval times.

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