Musée Lapidaire
The Musée Lapidaire is the archaeological department of the Fondation Calvet, housed inside a magnificent 17th-century Baroque Jesuit chapel on Rue de la Republique. Admission is free. Its collection of Greek, Roman, Egyptian, and Gallo-Roman antiquities includes the famous Tarasque de Noves - one of the most important pieces of Celtic sculpture in existence.
Ancient civilisations in a Baroque masterpiece
The Jesuit chapel that houses the Lapidaire was built between 1620 and 1645 by architects Etienne Martellange and Francois de Royers de la Valfeniere. After the Jesuits were expelled from France in the 18th century, the building passed through various uses before the Fondation Calvet transformed it into a dedicated archaeology museum in 1933. The soaring Baroque nave - designed to inspire religious awe - turns out to be the perfect setting for monumental stone antiquities.
What you will see
The collection spans millennia. Greek and Etruscan reliefs and statues sit alongside Roman funerary monuments, sarcophagi, and classical portrait busts. The Gallo-Roman section is the highlight, anchored by the extraordinary Tarasque de Noves - a terrifying 1st-century BC stone sculpture of a mythical beast with human limbs hanging from its jaws and its claws resting on severed heads. Discovered near the town of Noves in 1849, it is one of the most famous and disturbing pieces of Celtic art ever found. The Egyptian gallery offers votive stelae, bronzes, and funerary artefacts that provide a compact but genuine glimpse into pharaonic culture.
Why it is special
The juxtaposition is unforgettable. Pagan gods, Egyptian relics, and pre-Christian Celtic monsters displayed beneath the soaring vaults and gilded detailing of a Catholic Baroque chapel. The monumental nave provides natural light and a sense of grandeur that elevates every piece. It is also remarkably uncrowded - most visitors walk straight past it on Rue de la Republique without realising what is inside.
Practical information
Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 AM to 1 PM and 2 PM to 6 PM. Closed on Mondays, January 1st, May 1st, November 1st, and December 25th. Admission to the permanent collections is completely free.
Who is it for?
History and archaeology enthusiasts, anyone fascinated by ancient civilisations, architecture lovers who want to see one of Avignon's most beautiful interiors, and families with children who will be thrilled (or terrified) by the Tarasque. Allow about 45 minutes to 1 hour.
Pair it with
The Lapidaire sits on Rue de la Republique, Avignon's main avenue, halfway between the train station and Place de l'Horloge. It makes an ideal first stop on a walk into the old town. From here, continue north to the Palais des Papes or detour west to the Musée Calvet - its parent museum - on Rue Joseph Vernet.