The Vesunna Museum in Périgueux
Few towns can boast of being built on a Gallo-Roman site cited by Julius Caesar in his famous writings. Such is the case of Périgueux, which has built a museum retracing its history: the Vesunna Museum. A spectacular building, combining contemporary lines and historic ruins, to visit during your stay at our campsite in the Dordogne.
The history of the Vesunna Museum
These are ruins… but not just any ruins. The foundations that the Vesunna museum surrounds like a jewel case are classified as historic monuments. Discovered in 1959, they correspond to the foundations of the domus de Vésone, located in today’s old Périgueux, as well as the amphitheatre and temple of Vesunna. Today, they can be explored in the heart of the museum. Its architecture, conceptualized by Jean Nouvel (famous for his work on the Quai Branly and the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris), features large bay windows and steel arches that protect and enhance the ruins. These remarkable remains, spread over 2,400 square metres near our campsite with swimming pool in the Dordogne, offer a glimpse into the ancient life of Périgueux. Architectural works are grouped by collections (sculptures, steles) to imagine the life of the inhabitants of yesteryear. Similarly, models of ancient Périgueux allow visitors to visualize the city, with the Tour de Vésone and the ramparts still standing today.
Visiting the Vesunna museum: practical information
The Vesunna Museum is open from October to August, with special opening hours:
- Open April to June + September: 9.30am to 5.30pm weekdays; 10am to 12.30pm and 2.30pm to 6pm weekends. Closed on Mondays.
- Open October to March: weekdays 9:30am to 12:30pm and 1:30pm to 5pm; weekends 10am to 12:30pm and 2:30pm to 6pm. Closed on Mondays.
- Open July and August: daily from 10 am to 7 pm.
Guided tour groups: 10 people maximum. Reservations required with the mediation team. Admission is 6 euros for adults, free for under-18s, and 4 euros for concessions. Photo : Jack ma, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
