Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Museum of Archaeology of Antibes finds its origins in the collections created by Romuald Dor de la Souchère in 1928. Originally exhibited at Grimaldi Castle, these collections allowed the creation of the first museum of history of the city in 1963. The rise of underwater excavations and archaeological research in and around the old town, especially since the 1960s, has considerably enriched the discoveries, revealing major remains of antiquity.

The vaulted galleries of the museum now house objects bearing witness to the history of Antipolis, from its origin as an oppidum ligure in the 6th century B.C. to its development as a Massaliot colony, then as an autonomous Roman city in the 1st century B.C. Greek, Etruscan and Great Greece ceramics, as well as funeral remains, mosaics and architectural elements, illustrate trade, funeral practices and Roman urban planning.

The museum is housed in a bastion of the Vauban compound, built at the end of the seventeenth century, offering an exceptional historical setting. From its terrace, it offers a panorama of the old town and the Cap d'Antibes, while highlighting local archaeological discoveries, such as those of the secondary site of Vaugrenier, located a few kilometers north. These elements underline Antipolis' strategic and commercial importance in antiquity, confirmed by the numerous wrecks found offshore.

The museum route also evokes the Roman infrastructures characteristic of the city, such as theatres, amphitheatres, thermal baths and aqueducts, which made Antipolis a flourishing port. The exposed remains, including sarcophagus, funerary steles and a monumental marble fountain, restore the decor of habitats and public spaces, providing a concrete overview of everyday life and cultural practices of the time.

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