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Key figures

Origin and history

The Museum of Antiquities of Rouen found its origins in the creation of the Departmental Commission of Antiquities in 1812, responsible for preserving the local archaeological heritage. In 1831, under the leadership of Prefect Henri Dupont-Delporte, the museum was officially founded to expose the remains of the Lillebonne excavations. Achille Deville became its first director, followed by Abbé Cochet, an iconic curator. The museum settles in the former convent of Sainte-Marie (17th century), classified as a historical monument in 1862, whose convent church, destroyed during the Revolution, no longer remains.

The museum specializes in regional collections, covering the age of bronze in the Renaissance, with major pieces such as Gaulish axes, Merovingian fibules or Gallo-Roman objects. It is also home to Egyptian, Greek and Tunisian antiques, dating back to the 19th and 20th centuries, including that of Abbé Henri de Genouillac, an assyrologist. A fire in 1894 partially damaged the collections. In 2016, the museum was transferred to Rouen Normandie, and a merger with the museum was planned for 2028, resulting in its temporary closure in 2024.

Among the treasures exhibited are the Tapestry of Winged Cerfs (circa 1450), Romanesque ivorys, medieval enamels, and Viking remains such as Scandinavian fibules. The collections reflect Norman archaeological richness, with objects from local excavations (Seine-Maritime, Eure), complemented by Mediterranean and Oriental pieces. The museum thus illustrates the evolution of civilizations, from the first Celtic societies to medieval Christian influences, including the Merovingian handicrafts and the Gallo-Roman heritage.

The former Visitandine convent, built in the 19th century according to romantic museum principles, now houses nearly 35,000 works. Ranked Museum of France, it combines historical architecture and thematic presentations ( funerary rituals, daily life, religious art). The galleries closed in 2024 for work, waiting for a new museum pole planned in 2028, combining archaeology and natural sciences.

The museum also owes its reputation to exceptional pieces such as the Reliquary Bras of Saint-Saëns, the Mosaic of Lillebonne, or the medieval stained glass windows of Rouen. The numismatic collections (15,000 pieces) and military objects (angons, Franciscans) complete this panorama. Its history reflects two centuries of acquisitions, marked by figures such as Léon de Vesly, director, and events such as the great urban works of the nineteenth century, source of many discoveries.

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