Lapidary Museum

The Lapidary Museum (Musée Lapidaire) is an archaeological museum located at 27 Rue de la République. Housed within a stunning 17th-century former Jesuit chapel, it functions as the Antiquities Gallery for the larger Calvet Museum network in Avignon.

This museum is historically significant for preserving the deep ancient heritage of the region, long before the arrival of the popes. It safeguards a vast collection of Greek, Roman, Gallo-Roman, and Paleo-Christian artifacts, acting as a crucial bridge to understanding the ancient civilizations that shaped southern France.

Walking into the museum is a grand, theatrical experience. The soaring, vaulted ceilings and dramatic architecture of the Baroque chapel provide a magnificent, airy backdrop for the heavy stone sculptures, intricate mosaics, and monumental architectural fragments displayed throughout the nave.

Despite its serious historical subject matter, the Lapidary Museum holds a unique and welcoming distinction. It has been officially designated as a "Joyful Museum" (Musée Joyeux), a specific label recognizing its commitment to making complex archaeology accessible, engaging, and unpretentious for visitors of all ages.