NARBO VIA MUSEUM

Narbo Via, a key site for understanding the history of Narbonese Gaul, recreates the past of its capital, Narbo Martius, of which, paradoxically, almost no visible traces remain. The building was designed by the international firm Foster+Partners, in association with the Adrien Gardère studio for the museography and Nîmes-based architect Jean Capia. The building's various facades are constructed using the stratified structural concrete technique: made up of horizontal layers obtained from local soils, this concrete is reminiscent of stratigraphy in archaeology, making the Museum a link between past and present. The backbone of the building, a monumental wall made of 760 stone blocks, most of them from the ancient city's funerary sites, opens up the collections. This automated lapidary wall allows the blocks to be set in motion for mediation and research purposes. Equipped with large screens and interactive terminals that allow visitors to manipulate the blocks in 3D, it recreates the memory and monumentality of the Roman city. The 2,600m² exhibition features over 1,300 exhibits, presenting the city of Narbo Martius under the Roman Empire: societal organization, urban planning and architecture (monumental remains and sumptuous decorations from the archaeological sites in Narbonne, including the finest collection of Gallo-Roman paintings outside Italy); economic and port life, with an overview of current research and excavations in the area. Numerous digital displays, including 3D reconstructions of the ancient port, will stimulate visitors' curiosity throughout their visit. Narbo Via is an ambitious scientific and cultural project. Featuring a restaurant, a 192-seat auditorium, a bookshop-boutique, research areas, Mediterranean gardens and an esplanade capable of hosting open-air shows, the site is a true place of life and encounters open to all: local and regional residents, tourists… Themed tours, courses during school vacations, conferences, workshops and events, as well as discovery tours of the 3 sites, are all on offer. In addition to the eponymous museum, Narbo Via is a public establishment for cultural cooperation which brings together two other ancient sites: the Horreum in Narbonne and Amphoralis in Sallèles d'Aude, whose Gallo-Roman collections and remains complement the Narbo Via museum.