A historic monument par excellence, the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye has a fascinating history, which we invite you to discover during the Journées du Patrimoine, the 42nd edition of which takes place on Saturday September 20 and Sunday September 21 , 2025.
Built in the 12th century by King Louis VI le Gros, the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye was originally a hilltop fortress. Later, King François I transformed Saint-Germain into a Renaissance-style fortress, making it the principal residence of the kings of France. It was at Saint-Germain that kings Henri II, Henri IV and Louis XIV were born. Although the layout designed by François I remained, Louis XIV asked André Le Nôtre to redesign the gardens.
The Museum of National Archaeology - Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye
The Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, high up in the Yvelines, was one of the royal residences of François I. Today, it houses the national archaeology museum. Today, it houses the Musée d'Archéologie Nationale, with over 29,000 objects on display! [Read more]
This is what the King's gardener did in 1663, with large flowerbeds in front of the château, views towards infinity, and above all a panoramic view of the Seine valley: the 2.4-kilometre-long Grande Terrasse!
After Louis XIV deserted the"Château Neuf" for Versailles in 1682, Napoleon I turned it into a cavalry school, before Napoleon III decreed in 1862 that the Château de Saint-Germain would house a "Museum of Celtic and Gallo-Roman Antiquities": since then, it has changed its name to Musée d'Archéologie nationale and continues to acquire numerous objects - three million of which 29,000 are on display - from the Paleolithic to the early Middle Ages.
Discover this remarkable monument and its collections during the Heritage Days, with a range of activities suitable for the whole family.
After a visit to the Bronze Age collections and the tale of Nora and the Golden Moon, children are invited to recall the objects they have seen by playing a memory game.
Finally, in the workshop room, they decorate their own golden cardboard moon, which they can take home and wear proudly around their necks!
The Piette Room is unlike any other museum room in the world.
First and foremost, this exhibition room is remarkable for what it contains: a fabulous collection 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, in a scenography designed since the early 19th century.
Embark on a veritable time machine for a visit like no other!
Mediation by a GrandPalaisRMN lecturer.
Free access at the following times only: 11am-1pm / 2pm-3.30pm / 4.15-5.15pm - Please note that for safety reasons, the capacity of this room is limited to 18 people, so there may be a wait.
Inaugurated under Henri II on May 19, 1542, this vast 500 m² room is located in the west wing, on the second floor, between the keep and the chapel. Its ribbed vaults are decorated with fleur-de-lis motifs.
Over the centuries, this room has been used for a variety of purposes, all of which have altered its appearance. It was restored in the 19th century and again in the 1980s, restoring its original character and stone and brick walls. You can also admire the monumental fireplace, created in the 19th century, adorned with a stone motif featuring the salamander, the emblem of François I. This room, which once housed the comparative archaeology collections and has been closed to the public since 2015, will be exceptionally open for the European Heritage Days, for guided tours with two of the museum's curators: Fanny Hamonic, curator of the foreign archaeology, ethnography and experimental collections, and Adèle Akamatsu, curator of the Château, Domaine and historical collections.
Duration: 30 min.
Students from JSAMAN (Jeunes de la Société des Amis du musée d'Archéologie nationale) and from the Terra Antiqua - Études des Sociétés association at Sorbonne Université, will be on hand to help you discover the museum's permanent collections, through a mediation program based around emblematic works from the Neolithic, Bronze Age, First Iron Age (Celtic period) and Second Iron Age (Gallic period), as well as the history of the site in the château courtyard.
Born of the author's fascination with the Saint-Bélec slab, the first known IGN map is presented as a musical reverie. The narrator's thoughts unfold as she travels, doubling the protohistoric "map" with an intimate, fragmented cartography.
This poetic and musical duo is made up of Emilie Cousteix, author and actress, and Alix Beucher, guitarist and singer.
As part of his writing residency at MAN en 2025, Mathieu Simonet is adapting one of his devices, the narrative walks, to this heritage site. What true stories, anecdotes and special moments have you experienced in connection with the museum, château or national estate? Come and share the true stories and anecdotes read or narrated by their authors, in the place where they took place, from the forecourt to the courtyard of the château, in the rooms of the museum and in the national estate.
Duration: 1 hour
All ages, from 11 upwards
What is an ancient mosaic and what was its function? The workshop traces the history of mosaic techniques, from the use of pebbles by the Greeks to the use of tesserae by the Romans, who brought this art form to its apogee. Each child is introduced to the technique, either by copying a detail from a Gallo-Roman mosaic, or by inventing his or her own decorative motif.
Led by a deaf guide who speaks French sign language, this tour will enable you to discover a little-known period in the history of our region, due to the lack of written records in Europe. The development of bronze metallurgy accompanied, both symbolically and culturally, the profound upheavals in Western European society, transforming the French territory into a crossroads of cultures.
Duration: 1h30
On reservation
In this workshop, children discover prehistoric animals and the art of depicting them over 15,000 years ago.
Using wooden stencils, felt-tip pens or natural elements such as charcoal or ochre, they can then create their own panel in the manner of the first artists, and turn it into a collective work of art.
Come and discover unusual objects from the collections and talk to the museum's curators! On the occasion of the European Heritage Days, the curators will present a talk-flash (15 minutes maximum) on an object from the collections or reserves in connection with the national theme: "Architectural Heritage". A unique opportunity for discovery not to be missed! (Full program to come)
Through four thematic sections - Producing, Exchanging, Imagining the world, Inhabiting the world - the exhibition reveals a little-known period in the history of our territory, due to the lack of written records in Europe. The development of bronze metallurgy accompanied, both symbolically and culturally, the profound upheavals in Western European society, transforming the French territory into a crossroads of cultures.
Are you a fan of archaeo-fiction? How about using objects to bring to life a world without writing? In this workshop, held in museum rooms usually closed to the public, Mathieu Simonet invites you to tackle an archaeological question and write the story of a Bronze Age object whose function remains a mystery. This workshop is part of Mathieu Simonet's writer's residency "Un monde sans écriture. A poetic-archaeological project".
Today a museum, once the residence of kings! Saint Louis, Charles V, François I, Louis XIV, Molière, Lully... The Château Royal de Saint-Germain-en-Laye has been home to many historical figures and events. 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, head curator of heritage and head of the documentary resources department.
Continuous from 2pm to 5pm
Here's a new approach to prehistoric art, set against the backdrop of the animal world and featuring the bison! The bison often appeared in the works of our distant ancestors.
After a presentation of Paleolithic art, its supports and motifs, children are invited to slip into the shoes of the first artists and reproduce the bison by engraving a clay plate. They leave with their own creations.
Accompanied by a deaf guide who speaks French sign language, discover exceptional collections from the Neolithic to the end of Gaulish independence, and be amazed by the technical, human and artistic wealth of these men and women of the past.
This tour explores the history of the gardens at the Château Royal, from the Renaissance to the present day.
With the help of an activity booklet, complete with old engravings and plans of the estate, participants learn about the metamorphoses and specific features of a heritage site.
You won't be disappointed! But don't forget to reserve your place in advance to take part in the activities. If the weather's fine, we'd even recommend a picnic in the gardens- a moment of timeless relaxation guaranteed!
Dates and Opening Time
From September 20, 2025 to September 21, 2025
Location
National Archaeology Museum
Domaine National de Saint-Germain-en-Laye
78100 Saint Germain en Laye
Prices
Free
Official website
musee-archeologienationale.fr
The Museum of National Archaeology - Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye
