February-March 2023 vacations at the National Archaeology Museum

Published by Margot de Sortiraparis, Julie de Sortiraparis · Photos by My de Sortiraparis · Published on February 4, 2023 at 12:53 p.m.
The Museum of National Archaeology, located in the castle of Saint-Germain en Laye, offers many activities for children for the February vacations 2023, from February 18 to March 5, children have a rendezvous with history, the time of workshops or visits and playful stories.

During the February vacations 2023, head to the National Archaeology Museum to enjoy activities, workshops or guided tours accessible to the youngest, from 6 years old.

On the program, there are artistic workshops, to learn to engrave, draw, make ceramics... But also, there are many guided tours around the museum's collections, accessible to the whole family from 7 years old or a guided game tour, to explore the museum as if you were living in the time of the Franks!

At the moment, the National Archaeology Museum is presenting an exhibition, The World of Clovis, which offers you a visit in which you are the hero, with role-playing games and video games. The exhibition is fun and, during a visit, you enter the skin of a character of the Merovingian period with the booklets-games.

Located in the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, the Museum of National Archaeology exhibits more than 29,000 objects, out of some 3 million preserved. Based on the fact that ancient authors refer to objects or traditions, the museum's lecturers have devised activities adapted to children in the museum's rooms, around ancient objects.

On the program:

Workshops

Art workshop with Clara Baum

On the occasion of the Object of the Month exhibitions, Clara Baum invites the public to take an artistic, playful and dreamlike look at the objects presented.

  • When ? Saturday, February 18 at 10:30 am and 2:30 pm
  • For whom ? from 6 years old
  • How much ? 1.50 € for the workshop

Artistic workshop on printmaking with Anne Touquet

After observing Paleolithic bifaces and engravings found in the archives, this workshop teaches how to make an engraved interpretation.

  • When ? Monday February 20 at 10:30 am and 2 pm
  • For whom ? from 7 years old
  • How much ? 1.50 € per person

Art workshop with Claire Artemyz

This workshop proposes to develop the sense of observation and understanding of a multi-millennial object, the Magdalenian, at the origins of art: the engraving of a prehistoric animal. Each participant will be able to reinterpret the relationship with the animal through drawing, using his or her own perception.

  • When ? Thursday, February 23 and March 3 at 10:30 am or 2 pm
  • For whom ? children from 6 to 10 years old (10:30 am session) or teenagers from 11 to 15 years old (2 pm session)
  • How much ? 1.50 € for the workshop

Discovery workshop of sigillated ceramics

Discover how to make ceramic objects using ancient techniques! Participants will first discover the different stages of ceramic production and will then be led to make a vase using a Gallo-Roman technique: the punched clay plate. Each participant will leave at the end of the animation with the vase he or she has made!

  • When ? Wednesday February 22 and March 1 at 10:30 am
  • For whom ? 6-7 years old
  • How much ? 1.50 € for the workshop

Workshop apprentice ceramist

Put yourself in the shoes of a ceramologist: an archaeologist specializing in the study of archaeological ceramics. You will have to face a real 3D puzzle to reconstitute and reassemble a ceramic before studying it from every angle! Each participant will then be able to learn the ancient technique of molding and make his or her own Gallo-Roman oil lamp in clay.

  • When ? Wednesday, February 22 and March 1 at 2 pm
  • For whom ? from 8 years old
  • How much ? 1.50 € per person

Merovingian goldsmith workshop

Damascene is a technique widely used in the Merovingian period to decorate jewelry: fibula or belt buckle. After observing such objects in the exhibition, the budding craftsmen will come and try their hand at this art of goldsmithing. They will be able to leave with their creation and thus be "in the Merovingian fashion"!

  • When ? Monday, February 27 at 2:30 pm
  • For whom ? from 7 years old
  • How much ? 11 € + entrance fee from 26 years old

Workshop on Merovingian charters

Merovingian kings had their decisions written on papyrus charters that they signed by affixing a wax seal in which was inserted ... hair! The hair was indeed a symbol of power in the Merovingian culture. After a visit of the exhibition, the children will imagine their own charter inspired by the Merovingian alphabet.

  • When ? Saturday, March 4 at 2:30 pm
  • For whom ? from 8 years old
  • How much ? €11

Workshop to discover Merovingian illuminations

After a visit to the exhibition, children will discover different types of manuscripts and Merovingian iconography: zoomorphic and geometric motifs, Mediterranean influences (Byzantine in particular). On a sheet of papyrus, they will be able to imagine and create lettering and some will also be able to write a few sentences in the Merovingian alphabet.

  • When ? Sunday February 19 and Saturday February 25 at 2:30 pm
  • For whom ? from 8 years old
  • How much ? 11 € per person

Visits

Tales from the Nile

In March, the exhibition of a clay statuette of an Egyptian hippopotamus dating from the 4th millennium B.C. will allow the artist to propose a tale for the little ones, taking them to the banks of the Nile River!

  • When ? Friday March 3 at 10:30 am and 2:30 pm
  • For whom ? 2 to 5 years old, accompanying person required
  • How much ? 1.50

Guided tour, discovering the Frankish people

Accompanied by a guide-lecturer, discover the Frankish period in the traditional way, without the game application. Explore daily life, crafts, trade and even funeral traditions through exceptional objects. You don't have to play, but at the end of this discovery, you may be tempted to slip into the shoes of a Frank or a Franc...

  • When? Sunday, February 26 at 2pm and March 5 at 11am
  • For whom ? from 7 years old
  • How much? 7 € + museum entrance ticket from 26 years old

Guided game tour, be the hero of the exhibition

This exhibition is not like the others. To visit it, you have to play! You prefer to be accompanied? That's not a problem! Assisted by a guide-lecturer who will be the narrator of your adventure, slip into the shoes of a Frank or a Franc and make a name for yourself with his king: Clovis!

  • When? Saturday, February 18 at 11am, Monday, February 20, Wednesday, February 22 and March 1 at 2pm
  • For whom ? from 7 years old
  • How much ? 7 € + museum entrance ticket from 26 years old

Practical information

Dates and Opening Time
From February 18, 2023 to March 5, 2023

× Approximate opening times: to confirm opening times, please contact the establishment.

    Location

    Domaine National de Saint-Germain-en-Laye
    78100 Saint Germain en Laye

    Route planner

    Prices
    Billet d'entrée -25 ans: Free
    Billet d'entrée: €6

    Recommended age
    From 6 years old

    Official website
    musee-archeologienationale.fr

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