Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Alésia Museum Park is a cultural and historical project located on the site of the Battle of Alésia (52 B.C.), a decisive confrontation between the Roman armies of Julius Caesar and the Gallic troops of Vercingetorix. Located in Alise-Sainte-Reine in Côte-d'Or, this 6 500 m2 departmental site combines a contemporary building, reconstructions of Roman fortifications (circonvallation, countervallation) and a museum trail. The project is led by the Côte-d'Or department and managed by a local public company.

The 1,200 m2 cylindrical building, designed by Bernard Tschumi, symbolizes the fortifications with its larch wooden net and glass structure. Organized on five levels, it includes a helical ramp, a thematic exhibition tray, an auditorium and a vegetated terrace with views of the plain and Mont-Auxois. This place, labeled Musée de France since 2017, exhibits more than 600 archaeological and ethnological objects, including collections related to the excavations of Napoleon III.

Outside, the landscape designed by Michel Desvigne reconstructs the Roman double fortifications over 100 metres, with ditches, ramparts, watchtowers and siege weapons (catapultes, scorpio). These installations illustrate the 15 km of countervallation (blocking of Gauls on Mont-Auxois) and the 21 km of circumvallation (protection against Gallic reinforcements). The site features long-term occupation of the site, from battle to modern archaeological research.

From 2012 to 2021, the museum route focused on the Battle of Alésia and the Gallic myth, through 12 spaces evoking Caesar, Vercingetorix, and the Roman and Gallic armies. Since July 2021, a scenographic redesign has included a time course and eight immersive spaces, presenting the restored objects since 2002. This new course highlights the historical and mythical dimension of the site, while using innovative mediation mechanisms.

MuseoParc Alésia is part of a historiographic debate on the location of Alésia, opposing Alise-Sainte-Reine to other proposed sites. A departmental property, it benefits from the appellation Musée de France for its archaeological and ethnological collections, partially referenced on the basis of Monande of the Ministry of Culture. The official site and resources like Museofile complete its tourist and scientific outreach.

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