Key figures

Origin and history

The Narbo Via Museum, located in Narbonne (Aude, Occitanie), is a public cultural cooperation facility consisting of three sites: the museum itself, the underground galleries of the Horreum and the Amphoralis museum site. These places cover different temporalities related to the ancient and medieval history of Narbonne, former Roman colony. The museum stands as an archaeological research centre, with a restoration workshop (ceramics, mosaics, painted coatings, stone fragments), a study room for collections, and an auditorium of 200 places hosting conferences and symposia. Its architecture, signed by Foster+ Partners (Norman Foster), is inspired by ancient principles, focusing on fluidity and space functionality.

The 8 000 m2 building, organized on a landscaped podium along the Robine Canal, highlights an exceptional lapidary collection: a central gallery exhibits 760 blocks in a double metal rack 10 meters high by 76 meters long. This scenographic bias aims to provide an immersive experience for visitors, complemented by gardens, a bookshop and a restaurant. The museum offers varied programming (temporary exhibitions, workshops, nightlife, visits to excavation sites) and asserts itself as an open place of life on the city, at the eastern entrance of Narbonne.

The museum's integration into its urban and natural environment is reinforced by its strategic location, between the canal and the access axes to the city. Designed in collaboration with the studio Adrien Gardère (museumography) and architect Jean Capia, the project combines modernity and ancient heritage, while serving as a showcase for local archaeological discoveries. Outdoor spaces, dedicated to outdoor events and shows, extend this vocation of cultural and scientific mediation.

The Narbo Via museum benefits from the label Musée de France and is part of a regional dynamic, alongside other works by Norman Foster in Occitanie, such as the Carré d'Art in Nîmes or the Viaduc de Millau. Its innovative approach, combining conservation, research and dissemination, makes it a key player in heritage and cultural tourism in Languedoc-Roussillon.

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