The Museum of Aquitaine

A Museum of Civilization: 400,000 years of history in one place!

Free for children under 18 years old

The Museum of Aquitaine

With collections tracing more than 400,000 years of regional history, one could spend hours or even days visiting the Museum of Aquitaine. One is particularly struck by the richness of its collections: archaeology, history and regional and extra-European ethnography up to the present day, spread over several floors. To discover in particular the Gallic treasure of Tayac and thespaces dedicated to the 18th century which retrace Bordeaux, the Atlantic trade and slavery. Several “break” corners are set up to rest in the tranquility of the museum.

The museum is already very well documented, but for those who would like even more information, there is an app offering guided audio tours for adults and children. The children’s visit is well adapted, with a fun and original journey to be done independently through the collections. You can download it directly to your phone or tablet, so you can prepare for your visit to the museum.

Highlights

• The diversity of the collections, the very clear chronological presentation and an interesting and awareness-raising pedagogy on the history of the triangular trade
• For children, four themed tours can be downloaded from the museum’s website :
  • From 4 years old : discovering the bestiary in the permanent collections: Funny Beasts at the Museum
  • 8 to 12 years old: objects from the permanent collections: These Objects there!
  • From 12 years old: – have fun deciphering the Gallo-Roman inscriptions: Veni, Vidi, Legi
  • From 12 years old: Bordeaux in the 18th century, the Atlantic trade and slavery, through the story of Louis, a young boy: The taste of sugar
• For visitors with disabilities: The sensory journey in 29 stages, composed of facsimiles and models to touch as well as texts translated into Braille.
• … and the shop well stocked!

Events

• Family workshops are offered regularly at the museum (2 to 3 times a month, on average). The workshops are generally intended for children from 6 to 12 years old, and the presence of an adult is necessary. These workshops are by reservation and paid. Visit the museum’s website for more information.
• “Flash” tours are also scheduled around different themes within the museum’s collections or on the temporary exhibition of the moment.
• The museum offers dramatised tours once a month to discover everything about the Phantom of Montaigne, which is said to haunt the corridors of the building… Reservations for these tours are possible on the website of the Bordeaux Tourist Office.
• For teenagers, the museum becomes a field of investigation with the audio-immersive Escape Game, Les Voyageurs du Temps. Every Sunday of the month (several slots available during the day), by putting together a great team of detectives, you can help Arthur catch a temporo-criminal from Bordeaux who travels back in time to steal works from the museum’s collections. All additional information is available on the museum’s website

What to do after visiting the Museum of Aquitaine?

• Lunch on the terrace at the New York New York; have a snack or brunch at Mademoiselle Simone (rue des Ayres) or just a treat on the go with the delicious cookies of BATCH.
• For shopping, you are spoiled for choice: the Mériadeck shopping center, the Promenade Sainte-Catherine, or all the boutiques on Sainte-Catherine Street. Also remember to take a tour of the rue des Remparts, but be careful with your credit card!
• And if you ever had any energy left, you could always visit the city from above by climbing the 231 steps of the Pey-Berland Tower !

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