It's no lie to say it: she's the queen of enigmas and investigations. Her characters are known the world over, and continue to fascinate audiences through films, novels, TV series... Agatha Christie is one of the world's most famous mystery writers!
But did you know that the novelist had a few more talents up her sleeve? She was the wife of archaeologist Max Mallowan, and her passion for adventure andarchaeology led her to take part in several excavations in Syria and Iraq in the 1930s.
The Musée archéologique du Val d'Oise tells us about this little-known face of the "Queen of Crime", through the exhibition Agatha Christie, en quête d'archéologie, presented from February 8 to December 28, 2025. Using Agatha Christie's archives, this exhibition reveals many secrets and anecdotes about the illustrious author's life.
It was during her second marriage thatAgatha Christie discovered her passion for archaeology. Alongside her husband, she took part in major excavations, where she photographed and drew the finds, made inventories of the pieces... She learned a great deal and drew inspiration from these visits for the plots of her novels, such as Death on the Nile, Murder in Mesopotamia and The Crime on the Orient Express, three titles that enjoyed resounding success.
Between the lines, Agatha Christie reveals a little about her life and interests. The writer sees many similarities between her two activities: for her, a police investigation and an archaeological study are much more similar than they seem...
The Val d'Oise archaeological museum invites young and old to meet Agatha Christie the archaeologist in 2025.
Dates and Opening Time
From February 8, 2025 to December 28, 2025
Location
Val d'Oise archaeological museum
4 Place du Château
95450 Guiry en Vexin
Access
RER A station "Cergy le Haut", then bus 95-23 stop "Abribus".
Official website
www.valdoise.fr
