The Cantonal Museum of Archaeology and History traces fifteen millennia of Vaud history, from the retreat of the glaciers to the contemporary era. Housed in the Palais de Rumine in Lausanne, it displays objects unearthed during excavations carried out throughout the canton of Vaud.
Archaeological museums
Main highlights
- Permanent collections of archaeology, history and ethnography of the State of Vaud
- Numismatic collection of coins and medals, from Antiquity to the present day
- Temporary exhibitions devoted to the latest discoveries of the Cantonal Archaeology service
Overview
The MCAH preserves, restores, studies and displays the archaeology, history and ethnography collections of the State of Vaud. Founded in 1818, it was renamed the Museum of Antiquities in 1852, then the Archaeological Museum in 1877 and the Historical Museum in 1908, before receiving its current name in 1955.
The museum is located in the Palais de Rumine, on Place de la Riponne, which it shares with other cantonal institutions. It presents to the public the results of excavations carried out across the whole of Vaud. It also manages the State’s coin and medal collections.
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What to see and do
The permanent exhibitions trace human settlement in the canton from the end of the Palaeolithic to the Modern era. The display cases feature remains from the Bronze Age, the Roman period, the Middle Ages and more recent periods. The tour shows how ways of life, craft techniques and social structures evolved.
The numismatic collection brings together coins and medals that tell the monetary history of the region, from Antiquity to the present day. Temporary exhibitions highlight objects from the Cantonal Archaeology service’s excavation campaigns or explore specific themes in depth.
The museum also offers talks, family workshops and themed guided tours, giving visitors the chance to meet specialists in Vaud’s heritage.
Practical information
Getting there : M2 metro and buses 7 and 8, Riponne-M. Béjart stop; buses 1 and 2, Rue Neuve or Valentin stops; bus 16, Pierre Viret stop.
Visit duration : 1.5 to 2 hours for the permanent galleries, plus 30 to 45 minutes for a temporary exhibition.
Visitors : materials suited to young visitors, group tours by reservation.
Accessibility : building partially accessible to people with reduced mobility.
Visiting tips
Check the programme of talks and workshops before your visit to choose a themed tour. The Naturéum is in the same building, so you can combine both museums on the same day without changing venues.
Nearby attractions
- Lausanne Cathedral has overlooked the old town for more than 750 years and is a fine example of medieval architecture.
- The Naturéum Cantonal Museum of Natural Sciences brings together Vaud’s botany, geology and zoology collections.
- Château St-Maire is a fortified episcopal residence from the early 15th century and the seat of the Council of State.
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