The museum’s collections are presented in the main wing of the old Benedictine abbey of Saint-Bénigne. The strength of the ancient chapter house and scriptorium (level 0) built during the 11th century, contrasts with the elegant airiness of the monks dormitory (level 1) built at the end of the 13th century. More recent rooms (level 2) and an 18th century staircase complete this ensemble.
You will find a vast panorama of the presence of Man in Burgundy, from prehistory to the Middle Ages, with the exceptional sites of the region: Dijon, Alesia, Les Bolards, the Sources of the river Seine, Vertault, Mâlain ...
Level 0: the ex-voto offerings found at the Gallo-Roman sanctuary of the source of the river Seine transport the visitor to a quasi magic world dedicated to the goddess Sequana. Close by are a number of steles and low-reliefs, including the "Wine Merchant" found at Til-Châtel which takes us back into a bustling street similar to the ones discovered at Pompeii or Herculanum. During the last century, a number of sculptures were extracted from the walls of the Castrum of Divio.
Level 1: sculptures from Roman and Gothic times are housed under the Gothic vaulting: Moutiers-Saint-Jean, Curtil-Saint-Seine, Chartreuse de Champmol with a bust of Christ sculpted by Claus Sluter. The site of the abbey of Saint-Bénigne is explained by means of a general model highlighting the whole of this mediaeval site.
Level 2: the treasure of Blanot, a prestigious collection dating back to the late Bronze Age comprising pieces of pottery, clothing and jewellery in bronze and gold. Are also presented with this collection some exceptional discoveries: a gold bracelet found in La Rochepot and weighing 1 Kg 300, objects coming from recent archaeological excavations on the barred outcrop of Etaules, the ceramics decorated with tin discovered in Chaume-les-Baigneux...
Then daily life during Gallo-Roman times is approached with the dig on the site of Mediolanum. In the ceramics dating back to those times you will discover some of the snails and oysters eaten c. 1800 years ago. Didactic models present a villa excavated in Selongey.
An introduction to the Merovingian era will allow you to admire the jewellery and weapons that the inhabitants of Burgundy wore at the time; fibulae incrusted with de garnets, silver-plated belt buckles, gold earrings, shield boss and swords taken into the tomb by Burgundian and Franc warriors.
Throughout the year, the Musée Archéologique de Dijon organises temporary exhibitions.
From 1st October to 14 May :
Open daily from 9am to 12:30 and from 1:35pm to 6pm except on Mondays and Tuesdays. (Open on Mondays for school parties, by appointment).
From 15 May to 30 September :
Open daily from 8:55am to 6pm except on Tuesdays.
Closed on 1st January, 1st and 8 May, 14 July, 1st and 11 November and 25 December.
