Archaeological museum

The Saint-Laurent archaeological museum

A contemplative stop on the Grenoble audio-guided tour, the Saint-Laurent archaeological museum occupies the former church of the same name, built on a fourth-century Gallo-Roman necropolis. Deconsecrated in 1983, it was turned into an archaeological site, then a museum three years later.

Champollion's crypt

It all began with Champollion who, in 1803, revealed to the scholarly world the existence of a Merovingian crypt beneath the church of Saint-Laurent. Vandalised in 1846, the crypt was saved by Prosper Merimee, who listed it as a historic monument in 1850. The site is one of the most important testimonies of early medieval religious art in France.

What to see

The museum presents the objects unearthed during the excavations: more than one thousand five hundred burials have been discovered, from the fourth to the eighteenth century, that is sixteen centuries of funeral customs. Walk through this place of memory with respect and contemplation, in memory of the deceased who rested there.

Practical information

The Saint-Laurent archaeological museum is on the right bank of the Isere, in Grenoble. Entry is generally free; opening days and hours should be checked depending on the season.

What was the Saint-Laurent archaeological museum before ?

A church built on a Gallo-Roman necropolis, deconsecrated in 1983.

How many burials were discovered there ?

More than one thousand five hundred, spanning the fourth to the eighteenth century.