Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Musée départemental Arles antique, known as the "Blue Museum" due to its facades in blue enamel evoking the Arlesian sky, was inaugurated in 1995 on the peninsula of the Roman circus, a strategic ancient site bordering the Rhone. Designed by architect Henri Ciriani, the building adopts a triangular shape symbolizing a "Museal City", with three wings dedicated to permanent collections, culture (library, reception) and research (laboratory, restoration). Its implantation near the remains of the Roman circus, built around 148-149 AD, reinforces the dialogue between contemporary architecture and ancient heritage. The extension of 2013, dedicated to the Gallo-Roman barge Arles-Rhône 3 (31 meters, discovered in 2004), illustrates the importance of the river-sea port of Arelate, a commercial hub between the Mediterranean and Northern Europe.

The museum's collections trace the history of Arles from Neolithic to late antiquity (VIth century), with major pieces such as the colossal statue of Augustus (Ist century BC), the Venus d'Arles (copy of the original Louvre), or exceptional mosaics such as The Abduction of Europe or Orpheus and animals. The paleo-Christian sarcophagi (IVth-VIth centuries), which originated from the necropolises of the Alyscamps and Trinquetaille, form one of the richest collections in France after Rome, bearing witness to the transition between paganism and Christianity. The museum also preserves objects from the underwater excavations of the Rhône, including wooden anchors and navigational elements, reflecting ancient harbour activity.

The museum's history dates back to the 17th century, when the consuls of Arles exhibited the first antiquities in the town hall (1614), including the Venus d'Arles before its transfer to Versailles under Louis XIV. In the 18th century, "gardens of Antiquity" and a small museum at the Alyscamps (1784) preceded the installation of collections in the church of Sainte-Anne (1826), then their division between pagan and Christian art in the Jesuit chapel (1936). The project of a unified museum emerged in 1968 under the impetus of Jean-Maurice Rouquette, curator, to respond to the expansion of archaeological discoveries. The choice of the site of the Roman circus, searched from the 1970s onwards, makes it possible to link the museum to an emblematic monument of the city, while its innovative design (central ratio, fluid circulation) highlights flagship pieces such as mosaics or the presumed bust of Julius Caesar (2007).

The museum plays an active role in cultural mediation, with temporary exhibitions (e.g. Rodin, the light of Antiquity in 2013), children's workshops, and scientific conferences. It also manages the Hortus Garden, inspired by Roman circuses and created in 2010, which offers an immersion in vegetation and ancient games. Recognized as a maritime museum since 2016 for its underwater collections, the institution collaborates with laboratories such as ARC-Nucleart (Grenoble) for the restoration of fragile objects, such as the barge Arles-Rhône 3, whose water-sipped woods have required specialized treatment. The museum is thus part of a dynamic of valuing Arlesian heritage, between conservation, research and museum innovation.

Among the iconic pieces, the sarcophagus of Marcia Romania Celsa (IVth century) illustrates the paleo-Christian iconographic richness, with scenes such as The Adoration of the Magi or The Resurrection of Lazarus. The mosaics, such as the Zodiac (II century), reveal the local craftsmanship and cultural influences (symbols, geometric motifs). The museum also exhibits elements of monuments of Roman performances: altars of the ancient theatre (e.g. the Autel d'Apollon), model of the Arenas, or pious circus, dated by dendrochronology. These artifacts highlight the role of Arles as a prosperous Roman colony, marked by various cults (Mithra, Minerva) and lively urban life (tank races, gladiator games).

The 2013 extension, dedicated to river archaeology, highlights the ancient trade via the Rhone, with objects such as the wood anchor with lead jas discovered at Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer. The museum collaborates with the DRASM (Department of Subaquatic Archaeological Research) to study these remains, testifying to exchanges between Arelate and the Roman provinces. Temporary exhibitions, such as Treasures of the seabed (2022), explore these themes, while projects such as Museomix (2014) innovate in digital mediation. The museum is thus a key player in archaeological research in Provence, combining preservation, education and cultural tourism.

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