Creation of the departmental museum 1812 (≈ 1812)
Ministerial decision at the request of Prefect Destouches.
1817
Management by the demulation society
Management by the demulation society 1817 (≈ 1817)
Trusts museum and library to the local association.
1857
Transfer to the city
Transfer to the city 1857 (≈ 1857)
Abandoned by the Jura Emulation Society.
1985
Installation rue Richebourg
Installation rue Richebourg 1985 (≈ 1985)
Collections in the old cheese docks.
2010
New collection reserve
New collection reserve 2010 (≈ 2010)
Modernisation of conservation areas.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Key figures
Préfet Destouches - Museum Initiator
Originating the ministerial decision of 1812.
Origin and history
The Lons-le-Saunier Museum of Archaeology originated in a ministerial decision of 18 August 1812, authorizing the creation of a departmental museum of Jura from pre-existing collections. This initiative, led by Prefect Destouches, marks the beginning of a cultural institution designed to preserve the archaeological and natural objects of the region. The management of the museum and its library was entrusted in 1817 to the Société d'émulation du Jura, a local association dedicated to the promotion of science and the arts.
In 1857, the Société d'émulation du Jura ceded the museum and its library to the city of Lons-le-Saunier, marking a turning point in its administration. The collections, enriched by local excavations and donations from private individuals (Egyptian objects, exotic shells, etc.), were transferred in 1985 to the former Docks des cheeses comtois, rue Richebourg. In 2010, they incorporated new reserves, while the museum is currently preparing its reopening as part of a re-foundation project including the Museum of Fine Arts.
Today, the museum actively participates in the enhancement of the Jurasian heritage through temporary exhibitions and national events such as Museum Night or Heritage Days. Its collections, combining archaeology and natural history, reflect both local identity and more distant influences, testifying to the cultural opening of the region since the 19th century.
