Archaeology Museum · Saint-Germain-en-Laye · RER A
Musée d’Archéologie Nationale & the Paris Museum Pass
One million years of French prehistory — from the oldest known human face sculpture to Merovingian gold — in a 12th-century royal castle 20 minutes from Paris by RER A.
Individual ticket
€8
With Museum Pass
Included
Timed slot
Not required
Open
Mon, Wed–Sun
Hours
10am–5pm
Last updated: February 2026 · Prices and details verified
Is the Musée d’Archéologie Nationale included in the Paris Museum Pass?
Yes — the Paris Museum Pass covers full entry to the Musée d’Archéologie Nationale, saving you €8 per person. No reservation required. Note: due to major renovation works, the Palaeolithic, Roman Gaul, Early Middle Ages, and Comparative Archaeology collections are currently closed. Check musee-archeologienationale.fr for the latest on open rooms before visiting.
Musée d’Archéologie Nationale — Fast Facts
Address
Château, Place Charles de Gaulle, 78100 Saint-Germain-en-Laye
Nearest Metro
Saint-Germain-en-Laye (RER A terminus, Cergy-Pontoise branch) — 3 min walk to château (RER A)
Bus
258, local buses
Opening hours
Monday, Wednesday–Sunday 10am–5pm · Closed Tuesday, 1 January, 1 May, 25 December · Some collections closed — check musee-archeologienationale.fr
Closed
Tuesdays · 1 January, 1 May, 25 December · Palaeolithic, Roman Gaul, Early Middle Ages and Comparative Archaeology collections currently closed for renovation
Individual ticket
€8 (2026)
With Museum Pass
Free — included
What to Know Before You Visit
The Musée d’Archéologie Nationale occupies the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye — a royal castle with origins in the 12th century, one of the most important residences of the French monarchy before Versailles was built. Since 1867, the château has housed France’s national archaeology collection: over 30,000 objects tracing human presence in France from the Palaeolithic period (one million years ago) through to the Merovingian era of the 8th century CE. It is one of the oldest and most important archaeological museums in the world.
No reservation required. No reservation required. Closed Tuesdays. Major renovation works are currently underway to modernise the museum’s presentation — the Palaeolithic, Roman Gaul, Early Middle Ages, and Comparative Archaeology collections are closed. Open galleries include the Neolithic, Bronze Age, and Iron Age collections. Check musee-archeologienationale.fr for current room status before visiting.
Note: The museum was created in 1867 by Napoleon III, who was personally passionate about archaeology and ordered excavations at Alésia and Gergovie to research his biography of Julius Caesar. The château also contains a remarkable Gothic chapel (13th century) and the terrace gardens by Le Nôtre — the same designer as Versailles — with sweeping views over the Seine valley. After visiting, the free terrace is one of the finest panoramic viewpoints in the Île-de-France region.
Collection Highlights
One million years of human history in France — from stone tools to Merovingian jewellery.
Highlight 1
The Dame à la capuche (Lady with the Hood)
an ivory sculpture dated to 21,000 BCE and considered the first known representation of a human face, found at Brassempouy and regarded as one of the most significant objects in prehistoric art
Highlight 2
The Merovingian treasure
extraordinary gold jewellery, cloisonné enamel, and personal objects from the Frankish rulers of the 5th–8th centuries, representing the highest achievement of early medieval metalwork in France
Highlight 3
The Iron Age collections
weapons, torques, chariot fittings, and ceremonial objects from Gallic tribes including the Parisii, Arverni, and Aedui, many excavated at sites connected to Julius Caesar’s Gallic Wars
Visitor tip: The Le Nôtre terrace behind the château is completely free to visit and provides one of the best panoramic views in the Paris region — stretching from the Seine valley toward Paris on clear days. Combine with the free château gardens for a very pleasant half-day without spending anything beyond your museum pass.
Getting There
Take RER A westbound on the Saint-Germain-en-Laye terminus branch — the château is a 3-minute walk from the RER station exit. Journey time from Châtelet: approximately 35 minutes. The RER A runs frequently (every 10–15 minutes on this branch). Exit the station and the château entrance at Place Charles de Gaulle is directly in front of you.
Ready to Visit Musée d’Archéologie Nationale?
€8 entry included with the Museum Pass. Plus 50+ more venues across Paris.
Take RER A westbound on the Saint-Germain-en-Laye terminus branch — the château is a 3-minute walk from the RER station. Journey time from central Paris (Châtelet) is approximately 35 minutes. The museum is in the château at Place Charles de Gaulle in the town centre.
Due to major renovation works to overhaul the museum’s permanent galleries, the following collections are currently closed: Palaeolithic (including the Dame à la capuche), Roman Gaul, Early Middle Ages, and Comparative Archaeology. The Neolithic, Bronze Age, and Iron Age galleries remain open. Check musee-archeologienationale.fr before visiting for the most current status.
The Grande Terrasse at Saint-Germain-en-Laye was designed by André Le Nôtre — the same landscape architect who created the gardens of Versailles. It stretches for 2.4 kilometres along the edge of the château forest, with sweeping views over the Seine valley and the Paris basin. It is completely free to walk and one of the finest panoramic viewpoints in the Île-de-France.
