Archaeological Museum of Dijon, Dijon

Archaeological Museum of Dijon, Dijon

Housed in the former Benedictine monastery of Saint-Bénigne, the Archaeological Museum of Dijon explores the history of the Burgundy region from Prehistoric times through Protohistory and Roman Gaul to the Middle Ages.

Housed in the former Benedictine monastery of Saint-Bénigne, the Archaeological Museum of Dijon explores the history of the Burgundy region from Prehistoric times through Protohistory and Roman Gaul to the Middle Ages. It showcases finds from various sites in Dijon, Alésia, Vertault, Mâlain, Moutiers-Saint-Jean, La Rochepot, and others.

The collection is spread over 3 levels.

• The former chapter house and the scriptorium from the 11th century on Level 0 showcase wooden ex-votos to Sequana, the goddess of Seine according to Gaul mythology, as well as steles, bas-reliefs and sculptures from the the castrum of Dijon.

  The 13th century Gothic style dormitory of the monks on Level 1 exhibits Romanesque and Gothic sculptures from Moutiers-Saint-Jean, Curtil-Saint-Seine, and other sites, the highlight being a limestone bust of 'Christ with a Crown of Thorns' sculpted by Claus Sluter in 1399. It was originally installed on the Well of Moses in the courtyard of the Carthusian monastry of Champmol in Dijon. The floor also has exhibits on the history of the abbey, and displays a changing collection of contemporary art and photography.

  The 17th century rooms on Level 2 exhibit finds from the period spanning from the Paleolithic period to the Merovingian era, including jewelry, ceramics, vases, coins, and tools. Highlights include the Bronze Age finds of ceramics and jewelry from Blanot, gold bracelet from La Rochepot, ceramics decorated with tin from Chaume-lès-Baigneux , and swords from graves of Burgundian and Frankish warriors.