Why not take advantage of Nuit des Musées to escape the capital and discover a royal castle, the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye? With free access to the rooms, the Nuit des Musées is a great opportunity to take a stroll, on May 18, 2024, through this château rebuilt in the 16th century by François I as the main royal residence until Louis XIV deserted the"Château Neuf" for the Château de Versailles in 1682.
This magnificent monument has housed the Musée d'Archéologie Nationale since 1862, bringing together masterpieces of Celtic and Gallo-Roman antiquity- three million objects, including 30,000 on display - from the Paleolithic to the early Middle Ages.
Traditionally, the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye offers a free tour of its permanent collections. Unique in the world, the Édouard Piette collection contains a fabulous array of prehistoric tools, weapons and art objects, discovered in the 19th century by Édouard Piette during excavations in the Pyrenees. Numerous masterpieces are on display, including the famous "Dame à la Capuche" discovered at Brassempouy, in the Landes region. The scenography has remained unchanged since the 19th century, at the request of the collector who bequeathed his collection to the museum under the condition of a presentation defined by him and unchanged over time.
For this new edition, the museum is unveiling a special program of visits and events. Find out more about what to expect on this unique evening.
Today a museum, once the residence of kings!
Saint Louis, Charles V, François I, Louis XIV, Molière, Lully... Many historical figures and events have taken place at the Château royal de Saint-Germain-en-Laye.
Around a model of the estate in the mid-17th century, discover the fascinating history of the château and its evolution, with commentary by Corinne Jouys-Barbelin, curator in charge of the documentary resources department.
Through the play of light and shadow on the walls of the interior façade, discover the courtyard of the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye as you've never seen it before! Between the magic of the place, the dreamlike and the reinterpretation of the architecture. Grandiose!
Mediation in the galleries by students from Université Paris Dauphine
This initiative is part of the Grands Enjeux contemporains course given to all students in the second year of the Licence Sciences des Organisations degree.
Ten students from the relevant teaching unit will introduce you to the Museum's accessible collections: the Neolithic, the Bronze Age, the First Iron Age or Celtic period, the Second Iron Age or Gallic period, as well as the temporary exhibition D'un monde à l'autre. Autun from Antiquity to the Middle Ages.
Our RMN lecturers offer two simultaneous workshops:
Painting like prehistoric man
From age 6
This workshop introduces children to the themes and techniques of Palaeolithic painting, and enables them to create an individual coloured work, followed by a collective fresco. Children choose a drawing and reproduce it on kraft paper using greaseproof chalk; then all the drawings are grouped together to create a fresco.
Animals in prehistoric art: the engraved bison
From age 7
Here's a new approach to prehistoric art, with the animal world in the background and the bison in the spotlight! The bison often appears in the works of our distant ancestors. Children are invited to slip into the shoes of the first artists and reproduce this engraving on a clay plate. They leave with their own work.
From light to tomorrow.
From the ivory of the Dame de Brassempouy, to jewelry, to bronze swords, the work of humans makes time pass. The joy of bringing these rare works back to life, in functions that are not necessarily original, but that dance the origins of our lives.
Three works of art, three pieces of music, three dance solos, in an arrow of time.
1st solo: La Dame de Brassempouy
Choreography by Michel Hallet Eghayan- Music by Tôn-Thât Tiêt.
Dancer: Margot Bain, musician: Hervé Cligniez
2nd solo: L'Épée de Plougrescant
Choreography by Michel Hallet Eghayan - Music by Gérard Condé
Dancer: Emilie Eckly - Musician: François Salès
3rd solo: Les bijoux de perles
Choreography by Michel Hallet Eghayan - Music by Claudio Betinelli
Dancer: Samuel Hubert - Musician: Claudio Betinelli
As part of an artistic and cultural education partnership with the Musée d'Archéologie Nationale, students in two 6th grade classes at the Franco-Lebanese Lycée Habbouche-Nabatieh follow the adventures of the Dame de Brassempouy, who sneaks off to Beirut in search of her magic flute. Will she be able to count on the help of the megaceros in her quest?
The story, written and narrated by the students, is illustrated by their drawings, produced as part of art workshops led by artist Erolf Totort, some of whose works are on display in the auditorium foyer.
Two screenings in the auditorium at 7:30pm and 9:30pm.
Embark on a real time machine for a one-of-a-kind visit!
The Piette Room is unlike any other museum room in the world. It showcases the fabulous collection of prehistoric tools, weapons and artefacts discovered in the 19th century by Édouard Piette during excavations in Haute-Garonne, the Pyrenees, Ariège and Landes. Numerous masterpieces are on display, including the famous Dame de Brassempouy, discovered in 1894. The Piette Room provides an insight into the scientific activity surrounding Palaeolithic art and the museography of archaeology, as practised over a century ago.
Visit by Catherine Schwab, heritage curator responsible for the Palaeolithic and Mesolithic collections.
See you at the Domaine National de Saint-Germain-en-Laye to enjoy this unique night!
Dates and Opening Time
On May 18th, 2024
Location
Domaine National de Saint-Germain-en-Laye
Place Charles de Gaulle
78100 Saint Germain en Laye
Prices
Free
Recommended age
For all
Official website
musee-archeologienationale.fr
