Musée archéologique Saint-Laurent

Museum

Place Saint-Laurent
38000 Grenoble

A rarity in Europe, this museum was installed in an old parish church. The structure was among the first to be classified as a Historic Monument of France. Its Merovingian-era crypt is a unique witness to the art and architecture of the very early Middle Ages.

After much archeological research, the Saint Laurent archeological museum and church is getting a face lift in order to better welcome visitors. The works,is now finished with the construction of a visitor's path and the bringing of the site up to modern standards began in February 2009.

The site has earned a solid reputation, thanks in part to its sanctuary dating from the early Christian era (6th century) and its exceptional crypt. The renovation project strives to better exploit the site's historical and archeological wealth, which is classified as a Historic Monument of France.

1500 years of religious and funerary history have been uncovered. We can see the different construction phases: antique mausoleums, the Roman-style church and its Benedictine capitals, the Merovingian funeral basilica, and Carolingian church.

Where the cloister once stood, the relics uncovered by archeologists are protected by a glass and metal structure.

A collection of objects uncovered during the dig enriches the permanent exhibit, which for the first time, reveals the essential findings of 30 years of on-site research. This exhibit presents the key information concerning the urban, religious, and human history of Grenoble.