{"id":1014,"date":"2026-04-08T12:25:42","date_gmt":"2026-04-08T10:25:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.oasis-verdon.com\/verdon\/prehistory-museum-of-the-verdon-gorges\/"},"modified":"2026-09-17T13:58:00","modified_gmt":"2026-09-17T11:58:00","slug":"prehistory-museum-of-the-verdon-gorges","status":"publish","type":"verdon","link":"https:\/\/www.oasis-verdon.com\/en\/culture-visits-verdon\/prehistory-museum-of-the-verdon-gorges\/","title":{"rendered":"Prehistoric Museum"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"diaporama-header align-full\"><div class=\"gallery\"><figure class=\"gallery__item\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.oasis-verdon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/header-musee-quinson-420x315.webp\" media=\"(max-width: 210px)\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.oasis-verdon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/header-musee-quinson-850x638.webp\" media=\"(max-width: 420px)\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.oasis-verdon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/header-musee-quinson-768x576.webp\" media=\"(max-width: 850px)\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.oasis-verdon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/header-musee-quinson-1024x768.webp\" media=\"(max-width: 1024px)\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.oasis-verdon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/header-musee-quinson.webp\" media=\"(min-width: 1025px)\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.oasis-verdon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/header-musee-quinson-420x315.webp\" width=\"420\" height=\"210\" alt=\"\" title=\"\"><\/picture><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"diaporama-header__inner\"><div class=\"group resa\"><p><ctv-searchbar><\/ctv-searchbar><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><nav aria-label=\"breadcrumbs\" class=\"rank-math-breadcrumb\"><p><span class=\"last\">Home<\/span><\/p><\/nav>\n<div class=\"group sec-25\"><h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Discover the Gorges du Verdon Prehistory Museum <span class=\"fc-span\">near your campground<\/span><\/h1><p class=\"mini center\" style=\"text-align: center;\" id=\"73\" >A stay at our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oasis-verdon.com\/en\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"73\">campground in the Verdon<\/a>, <strong>L\u2019Oasis du Verdon<\/strong>, is a chance to enjoy a break surrounded by nature and full of discoveries in the heart of <strong>Provence<\/strong>. Just <strong>a 26-minute<\/strong> drive (about 22.9 km) away, a journey through time awaits you: the <strong>Gorges du Verdon Museum of Prehistory<\/strong>. This unique site invites you on a fascinating journey in the footsteps of the region\u2019s earliest inhabitants.    <\/p><div class=\"lireplus mini fc-desk\"><p class=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"  >Read more<\/p><div class=\"group\"><div class=\"group\"><p class=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"  >Get ready to travel back in time\u2014millions of years\u2014to learn about the lives of prehistoric humans in a stunning setting. This enriching experience for the whole family is the perfect way to round out your days exploring the surrounding landscapes. <\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"columns\"><div class=\"columns__item\"><h2>Overview <span class=\"fc-span\">and Geographic Location<\/span><\/h2><p    >The <strong>Gorges du Verdon Prehistory Museum<\/strong> stands proudly in <strong>Quinson<\/strong>, a charming village in the <strong>Alpes-de-Haute-Provence<\/strong> department, in the <strong>Provence-Alpes-C\u00f4te d\u2019Azur<\/strong> region. Designed by the renowned British architect <strong>Norman Foster<\/strong>, the building itself is a work of art, blending harmoniously into the landscape. Its clean lines and spacious interiors showcase the exceptional collections it houses.  <\/p><p   id=\"610\" >Located in the heart <strong>of the Verdon Regional Nature Park<\/strong>, the museum is an ideal starting point for understanding the interaction between humans and this spectacular natural environment over the past millennia. Its proximity to the famous <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oasis-verdon.com\/en\/culture-visits-verdon\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"610\">Verdon Gorge<\/a> makes it an unmissable cultural stop during your <strong>stay in Provence<\/strong>. You\u2019ll discover one of Europe\u2019s largest museums of prehistory, a leading institution in France and beyond.  <\/p><\/div><div class=\"columns__item\"><div class=\"gallery fade-left\"><figure class=\"gallery__item\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.oasis-verdon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/village-quinson-420x280.webp\" media=\"(max-width: 210px)\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.oasis-verdon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/village-quinson-850x566.webp\" media=\"(max-width: 420px)\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.oasis-verdon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/village-quinson-768x512.webp\" media=\"(max-width: 850px)\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.oasis-verdon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/village-quinson-1024x682.webp\" media=\"(max-width: 1024px)\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.oasis-verdon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/village-quinson.webp\" media=\"(min-width: 1025px)\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.oasis-verdon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/village-quinson-420x280.webp\" width=\"420\" height=\"210\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"\" title=\"\"><\/picture><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"group sec-25\"><h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">A Journey Through <span class=\"fc-span\">the Ancient History of the Verdon<\/span><\/h2><p class=\"mini center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"  >The history of <strong>the Gorges du Verdon Museum of Prehistory<\/strong> is closely linked to the rich archaeological discoveries made in the region. For over a century, the numerous caves and rock shelters of the Verdon, including the famous <strong>Baume Bonne Cave<\/strong>, have yielded treasures that bear witness to continuous human occupation spanning nearly a million years. <\/p><div class=\"lireplus mini fc-desk\"><p class=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"  >Read more<\/p><div class=\"group\"><div class=\"group\"><p class=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"  >It was under the leadership of <strong>Professor Henry de Lumley<\/strong>, a distinguished prehistorian, that the plan for this museum took shape, with support from the CNRS and local authorities. It was conceived as a <strong>center for the preservation, research, and dissemination of knowledge<\/strong> about this distant period. Methodical excavations have made it possible to accurately reconstruct the lifestyles, techniques, and environment of the human groups that successively inhabited the gorges. Each object on display tells a story of this long human journey, from the first <strong>Paleolithic hunter-gatherers<\/strong> to the <strong>Neolithic<\/strong> and <strong>Bronze Age<\/strong> <strong>farmers and herders<\/strong>.   <\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"columns reverse-mob\"><div class=\"columns__item\"><div class=\"gallery fade-left\"><figure class=\"gallery__item\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.oasis-verdon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/vue-quinson-420x280.webp\" media=\"(max-width: 210px)\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.oasis-verdon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/vue-quinson-850x566.webp\" media=\"(max-width: 420px)\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.oasis-verdon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/vue-quinson-768x512.webp\" media=\"(max-width: 850px)\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.oasis-verdon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/vue-quinson-1024x682.webp\" media=\"(max-width: 1024px)\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.oasis-verdon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/vue-quinson.webp\" media=\"(min-width: 1025px)\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.oasis-verdon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/vue-quinson-420x280.webp\" width=\"420\" height=\"210\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"\" title=\"\"><\/picture><\/figure><\/div><\/div><div class=\"columns__item\"><h2 style=\"text-align: right;\">Museum Tour: <span class=\"fc-span\">What Awaits You at the Museum<\/span><\/h2><p  style=\"text-align: right;\"  >A visit to <strong>the Gorges du Verdon Museum of Prehistory<\/strong> is designed to be a true chronological journey. From the moment you enter, you are transported through the ages. The <strong>museum\u2019s<\/strong> clear and educational <strong>exhibition<\/strong> is based on striking, <strong>life-size reconstructions<\/strong>: prehistoric camps, hunting scenes, and even a faithful representation of the stratigraphy of the Baume Bonne Cave.  <\/p><p  style=\"text-align: right;\"  >You can admire an impressive collection of <strong>authentic artifacts<\/strong> discovered during the excavations: flint tools, pottery, jewelry, and the bones of animals that were hunted.<\/p><div class=\"lireplus fc-desk\"><p  style=\"text-align: right;\"  >Read more<\/p><div class=\"group\"><div class=\"group\"><p  style=\"text-align: right;\"  ><strong>Models<\/strong>, <strong>films<\/strong>, and <strong>interactive displays<\/strong> help visitors better understand the different periods. The display cases showcase, in detail, the artifacts that illustrate the evolution of humankind, its technologies, and its art.   <\/p><p  style=\"text-align: right;\"  >Be sure to take a photo of <strong>the dioramas<\/strong> to remember this journey into the past. The museum also explores <strong>the evolution of the Verdon landscape<\/strong> and its impact on prehistoric societies. <\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"group sec-25\"><h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Activities<span class=\"fc-span\"> for Young and Old<\/span><\/h2><p class=\"mini center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"  ><strong>The Gorges du Verdon Prehistory Museum<\/strong> does more than just display collections; it brings prehistory to life and makes it accessible to everyone, especially children. Numerous <strong>activities<\/strong> and <strong>workshops<\/strong> are offered throughout the year, particularly during school breaks (Zones A, B, and C, depending on the period). Your children can try their hand at ancient techniques: flint knapping, starting a fire without matches, cave painting, and even spear-throwing.  <\/p><div class=\"lireplus mini fc-desk\"><p class=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"  >Read more<\/p><div class=\"group\"><div class=\"group\"><p class=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"  >These <strong>hands-on workshops<\/strong> provide a better understanding of the daily lives and activities of our <strong>ancestors<\/strong>. <strong>Themed guided tours<\/strong> are also organized to explore certain aspects of prehistory in greater depth. The museum also features a space dedicated to <strong>temporary exhibitions<\/strong>, ensuring that a visit remains engaging. For an even more immersive experience, ask about the option to <strong>visit the<\/strong> nearby <strong>reconstructed prehistoric village<\/strong> or, depending on conditions and schedules, <strong>the Baume Bonne cave<\/strong> (usually <strong>by reservation and with a guide<\/strong>). The museum\u2019s cultural workshop offers an educational program that is very popular with families.    <\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"group\"><div class=\"columns\"><div class=\"columns__item\"><h2>Practical Information <span class=\"fc-span\">for Your Visit<\/span><\/h2><p    >To plan your trip to <strong>the Gorges du Verdon Museum of Prehistory<\/strong> from <strong>L\u2019Oasis du Verdon<\/strong>:<\/p><p    ><strong>Address:<\/strong> Gorges du Verdon Prehistory Museum, Route de Montmeyan, 04500 Quinson, France.<\/p><div class=\"lireplus fc-desk\"><p    ><strong>Hours and days of operation<\/strong> (please check the official website before your visit)<\/p><div class=\"group\"><div class=\"group\"><ul><li><strong>February\u2013March:<\/strong> 10:00 a.m.\u20136:00 p.m. Closed on Tuesdays (except during Zone B school breaks). \n<\/li><li><strong>April\u2013June:<\/strong> 10:00 a.m.\u20137:00 p.m. Closed on Tuesdays (except during Zone B school breaks). \n<\/li><li><strong>July\u2013August:<\/strong> 10:00 a.m.\u20138:00 p.m. Open daily. \n<\/li><li><strong>September:<\/strong> 10:00 a.m. \u2013 7:00 p.m. Closed on Tuesdays. \n<\/li><li><strong>October \u2013 December 15:<\/strong> 10:00 a.m. \u2013 6:00 p.m. Closed on Tuesdays (except during Zone B school breaks). \n<\/li><li><em>Annual closure, generally from December 16 through late January\/early February. Last admission is usually one hour before closing. <\/em>\n<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"lireplus fc-desk\"><p    ><strong>Prices ( <\/strong>check the official website for any updates)<\/p><div class=\"group\"><div class=\"group\"><ul><li>Adult: \u20ac8.00\n<\/li><li>Children ages 6 to 18: \u20ac6.00\n<\/li><li>Children under 6: free\n<\/li><li>Reduced rate (job seekers, students): \u20ac6.00\n<\/li><li>Family package (2 adults + 2 children): \u20ac22.00\n<\/li><li>Additional child (with family pass): \u20ac3.00\n<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"lireplus fc-desk\"><p    ><strong>Additional Information<\/strong><\/p><div class=\"group\"><div class=\"group\"><p    ><strong>Parking:<\/strong> A large, free parking lot is available on site for cars and RVs.<\/p><p    ><strong>Dining:<\/strong> A cafeteria or restaurant may be available on site or nearby in the village of Quinson. Check the museum&#8217;s website for options. <\/p><p    ><strong>Official website:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.museeprehistoire.com\/accueil\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.museeprehistoire.com\/accueil <\/a> <\/p><p    ><strong>Accessibility:<\/strong> The museum has been awarded the \u201cTourisme &amp; Handicap\u201d certification for several types of disabilities, ensuring a comfortable visit for everyone. Details are available on their website. <\/p><p    >Please feel free to contact the museum directly with any specific questions about your visit, particularly regarding groups or workshops.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"columns__item\"><div class=\"gallery fade-left\"><figure class=\"gallery__item\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.oasis-verdon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pont-quinson-420x280.webp\" media=\"(max-width: 210px)\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.oasis-verdon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pont-quinson-850x566.webp\" media=\"(max-width: 420px)\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.oasis-verdon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pont-quinson-768x512.webp\" media=\"(max-width: 850px)\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.oasis-verdon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pont-quinson-1024x682.webp\" media=\"(max-width: 1024px)\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.oasis-verdon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pont-quinson.webp\" media=\"(min-width: 1025px)\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.oasis-verdon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/pont-quinson-420x280.webp\" width=\"420\" height=\"210\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"\" title=\"\"><\/picture><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div><p class=\"mini center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"  >Your stay at our <strong>campground, L\u2019Oasis du Verdon<\/strong>, will be the perfect opportunity to combine relaxation in the great outdoors with cultural exploration. The <strong>Gorges du Verdon Prehistory Museum<\/strong>, located just 26 minutes away, offers a window into a distant and fascinating past. A visit there is sure to enrich your <strong>vacation in Provence<\/strong> and leave you with lasting memories of human history in the <strong>Alps<\/strong> and the <strong>Gorges du Verdon<\/strong>.  <\/p><\/div>\r\n        \r\n        <div class=\"buttons between\">\r\n                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oasis-verdon.com\/en\/discovering-the-region\/tourism-in-moustiers-sainte-marie\/\" class=\"buttons__btn\">\r\n                    Moustiers-Sainte-Marie                <\/a>\r\n                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oasis-verdon.com\/en\/discovering-the-region\/tourism-salernes\/\" class=\"buttons__btn\">\r\n                    Salernes                <\/a>\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n\r\n    \r\n","protected":false},"featured_media":3044,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oasis-verdon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/verdon\/1014"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oasis-verdon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/verdon"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oasis-verdon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/verdon"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oasis-verdon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3044"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oasis-verdon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1014"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}