Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Musée de Préhistoire régionale de Saint-Pons-de-Thomières originated in the archaeological excavations conducted by Gabriel Rodriguez, a native of the city. The latter explored the Camprafaud Cave and other sites, discovering neolithic artifacts that he gave to the municipality. These collections, conditioned by the creation of a museum recognized by the French Museum Directorate, have enabled the foundation of this cultural establishment.

Located in an ancient building whose foundations date back to the abbey founded in 936 by Count Pons de Toulouse, the museum is attached to the headquarters of the Haut-Languedoc Regional Natural Park. The surrounding medieval structures, such as the Saint Benedict Tower (former guard tower) and the Portanelle, once bordered the cloister of the Abbey. The building, restored by preserving its original architecture (blond stones, contrasting metal elements), now houses a single level exhibition space, with a hall dedicated to temporary exhibitions.

The museum highlights the local neolithic period, known as Saint-Ponienne, marked by a predominant hunt on agriculture, deer wood tools, asymmetric arrows and statues-menhirs. Its strategic location, facing the cathedral and close to the Tourist Office, makes it a key place for the dissemination of the prehistoric and medieval heritage of the region.

The location of the museum, at 6 rue du Barry, enjoys a rich historical context: the current artery, traced in the 18th century to connect Toulouse to Béziers, replaced the old cloister. This road project illustrates the successive transformations of the heritage, where each era adapts existing structures (medieval, modern) to meet new needs, while retaining emblematic architectural elements.

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