bibracte - mont beuvray

Ancient Gaulois site, beautifully maintained and still being discovered! the guided tour around the site is a must, not only is it informative, one gets a complete insight about the time period which is difficult to understand on one's own. The Museum is architecturally and narratively outstanding. The lunch at the museum is worth tasting, delicious and copious.

we visited this museum today and found it one of the best in the topic of archeology we have ever seen. a good audio tour in various languages such as Dutch, English and French (included in the entry fee) using excellent equipment. all displays have explanations in French and English. there is an augmented reality display using tablets that will blow you away and the 3d explanation of the excavation of the hill is very well done.Couple this with the beautifull building and great outfoors for walking and you have a winner. unfortunatly the restaurant was not open so late in the season. but this is worth the visit.

Bibracte is the remains of an ancient Gallic/Celte town that existed around 100 B.C. to 100 A.D. in the Morvan Forest area of France. For its time, it was a large town, topping 8,000 residents at one point. Today you would never know that a town existed there because the forest has reclaimed the mountaintop area. Archeologists have been working the site since the 19th century and now have used modern satellite pictures from space to help them map the town that once stood there. We visited Bibracte on a Saturday in September. Even so, not many people around. The museum building was very impressive. We spent about an hour going through the exhibits to get an overview of what the site was all about and to get a feel for the extensive archeological work underway there. There was a fee for the museum. There was an audio guide (with an English option) that explained things very well. After that we drove/walked around the hill top to visit the various digs underway. Could have spent more time here than we had allowed. I would say this attraction is probably going to be more interesting to adults than children.

My wife and I are both very interested in Roman, Gallic and Celtic culture, so we took the most extensive option of Museum, period lunch and tour of Bibracte. We began with the museum, broke for lunch, took the tour and finished our museum visit at closing time. (Had we not finished, they would have given us gratis admission the next day.) I must disagree Marie O about the museum. My wife and I are both fluent in English and German and my wife is also fluent in French. We found only the descriptions in French to be adequate. Additionally, the museum is initially rather confusing as to its organization. I had the feeling that I started on page 52 and then bounced back and forth all over the 'book'. Eventually, I became 'oriented', but this organization is flawed. The quantity of material on display is enormous and highly interesting.We have had period meals before, so the table, utensil, bowls and cups were no surprise. When eating such a meal, one cannot judge the food of the time or the preparations by modern standards. Unless you are eating something like garum, the food of the time is rather bland and course. I would urge visitors to take this option. It is really a bargain for an entire day's entertainment.We took the next available tour of Bibracte, which turned out to be in German. This was the least interesting part of the day. The guide basically repeated what was in the brochure or on the signs. We could have done the tour more efficiently and a bit quicker on our own. Eventually, we left the group and did the rest alone.Back in the museum, we felt more comfortable with the organization. My wife and I took separate but crisscrossing paths. At the end of the day there was not much that at least one of us did not see.This site is not to be missed, whether because you read the Asterix comics, or because you are an armchair archaeologist or historian. We had an intermittently rainy day. The site is on a mountain, so bring appropriate outdoor clothing and footwear.

There are 3 options when buying a ticket to Bibracte: the expensive option with tour+lunch+museum, the 10eur option with tour and museum and the 7.50eur option with museum only (you can get to the park free of charge). We went for the second option and opted for the English speaking tour. We arrived at 1pm and the tour was to take place at 3pm. We started with the museum, but it was soon apparent, that the modern beautiful building was so interesting that 1,5h just wasnt going to cut it (we also wanted to eat before the tour). This is a truly unique museum in the sense, that it has truly used most of what the modern media can offer. You can enjoy a lights show over a moutain about Bibracte and you can use a pad to walk on the map (floor size) to learn more about the place. Not to mention movies, audioguides and many tiny maquettes. Dont get me wrong, I've seen it done in many other museums as well, but none of them have come as close. Another plus is that the English descriptions/signs/explanations of the whole thing are almost as long or close to the French ones. Ok, they are a bit less extensive, but I've been to museums where the English get like 10% of the information the French do (for example in Arles archeological museum u get like 5%, because almost everything is only in French). I am also really happy we opted for the guided tour, because on the mountain there isnt that much information signs and without a guide we would have been lost in boring ruins. With a guide the entire area was turned into magical land of the celts, with their own traditions and culture. I would truly recommend it: they take you to the mountain with a minibuss and also down (we walked, it was only 500m). Remeber to wear warm clothing, it cand be windy up there.

The museum was very interesting and well done. The information and probable lost in translation purchase of tickets - which we thought included the guided tour was disappointing. We found this out when we caught up with a guide whom rudely dismissed us with no possibility to correct the ticket mix up after her last tour of the day.

We have been to Bibracte three or four times now and it's always enjoyable. The museum isn't cheap but it's worth a visit if you find archaeology and the history of Bibracte interesting. You will have plenty of enjoyment anyway if you decide not to bother with museum. Take the free shuttle bus to the top of Mont Beuvray (or drive up yourself out of season) and you can spend hours walking through the woods, enjoying spectacular views including Mont Blanc some 100 or more miles away! The archaeological sites and digs are interesting and there are numerous gnarled, almost mutated beech trees which really are incredible. Then when youre done just walk down the mountain on one of the trails to the car park. For you bikers out there, The roads approaching are a bikers paradise. I really must go by bike myself one day. All in all always an enjoyable day.

Very interesting site, gives a good impression of how the aedui fortified their living place bibracte. Very interesting also that excavations were taking place during our visit. Visits possible in different languages (even in dutch). Good museum, excellent explanation with maps, 3d-maps, audioguide etc. Museum has unfortunately a lot of copies of finds.

I don't disagree with the reviews below (in English) we were camping in France woke up on a cloudy day and decided to visit.The museum is great, our boys aged 7 and 9 loved it, lots to see and do. Once you have learnt all about the fortified town you can walk, or take a bus to the top of the mountain seeing all of the sights on the way. Archeological digs still taking place with many of the sites of interest still under cover and in progress. The children can even get involved digging and brushing down the fortified walls.We thought we would spend an hour in the museum just for something to do to kill time instead of sat by the swimming pool, instead we were there all day. On our visit the restaurant at the museum was closed and the guided tour which includes a Gaul meal wasn't available but it still didn't spoil the trip. The guided tours in English are only available certain days, but most of the exhibits and sites are described in English on the signs.We don't speak much French, so asked "parlez vous anglais" at the reception of the museum, the young girl replied that she spoke French, Dutch, English and German. Put me to shame considering she was only 18 or so. The staff were all amazing and very friendly.When we first arrived at the top of the mountain the cloud was is so you couldn't see anything, luckily for us the cloud soon cleared and we were able to see the views from the top of the mountain which were breathtaking.Tips -1. check that the guided tour with meal is on, if that is what you want before travelling.2. If there is low cloud you won't see much I don't disagree with the reviews below, we were camping in France woke up on a cloudy day and decided to visit.The museum is great, our boys aged 7 and 9 loved it, lots to see and do. Once you have learnt all about the fortified town you can walk, or take a bus to the top of the mountain seeing all of the sights on the way. Archeological digs still taking place with many of the sites of interest still under cover and in progress. The children can even get involved digging and brushing down the fortified walls.We thought we would spend an hour in the museum just for something to do to kill time instead of sat by the swimming pool, instead we were there all day. On our visit the restaurant at the museum was closed and the guided tour which includes a Gaul meal wasn't available but it still didn't spoil the trip. The guided tours in English are only available certain days, but most of the exhibits and sites are described in English on the signs.We don't speak much French, so asked "parlez vous anglais" at the reception oc the museum, the young girl replied that she spoke French, Dutch, English and German. Put me to shame considering she was only 18 or so. The staff were all amazing and very friendly.When we first arrived at the top of the mountain the cloud was is so you couldn't see anything, luckily for us the cloud soon cleared and we were able to see the views from the top of the mountain which were breathtaking.Tips -1. check that the guided tour with meal is on, if that is what you want before travelling( if it is not it is still worth a visit)2. If there is low cloud you won't see much from the top of the mountain.3. Go on a sunny day, take a picnic and make a day of it, it is a steady walk up to the top but lots of stops, our kids managed it easily. We went up three quarters of the way, got hungry, found the restaurant closed so bought crisps, chocolate and drinks from the vending machines, then took the bus back to the summit.The guided tour with meal is €25 (it is typical first century apparently we didn't get to try but I wouldn't expect Michelin stars) from what we learnt its likely to be pork or beef olomg with gatherer foods like seeds and fruit.The access to the museum and mountain including all of the sites on the way is only €7.50 for adults, kids under 12 are free

We set off from the Musee parking area, following well-marked trail, thru gorgeous deciduous wood of moss covered trees, like a primeval forest, finding patches of open areas abundant with wild flowers. A gentle uphill walk, not demanding. At the top, we were rewarded with a breathtaking view--you can see why the Gauls settled here!--and a fascinating archeological dig, well signed and explained in French and English. We stayed just outside of Autun at a charming maison d'hote, Moulin Renaudiots. Bilingual. Beautiful grounds. Pool. Spacious rooms. Clean and comfortable. The landscape of the Morvan region is lush and varied. We absolutely loved it. Food and facilities are available at the Musee.

This is the site of an ancient Gallic tribe (Aedui) that thrived in the years before Caesar conquered Gaul. There is a lot of history here (Caesar wrote much of his 'Gallic Wars" here) both Gallic and Roman. Its an amazing experience to walk among grounds that are so historicEven if you arent a history buff, its a beautiful area full of trees and wonderful views from the top.

We passed the entrance to the museum one day by chance while having a drive around the area and decided to go back the next day. Really glad we did as it was one of the most interesting visits of our trip. Bibracte was one of the biggest and most important hill forts in Gaul at the end of the Iron Age and covered a large area on Mont Beuvray. The state of the art museum is the best place to start to get an idea of the background and history of the site. There's an excellent audio guide to the exhibits and some interesting recreations of some of the key buildings such as the interior of a typical house and a blacksmiths shop. After the museum it's worth taking a walk into the woods and up the hill to some of the actual excavation sites. There are information boards at various points which explain more about each part of the settlement. Archaeologists are still working at the site and you can visit some of the digs and watch them work. It is quite a large site so if you can't or don't want to walk far there is a road which takes you from the museum car park up to the top of Mont Beuvray with parking at the various points of interest. This road appears to be closed in summer to cars (we visited in September) but they run a shuttle bus service from the museum during this period. Really good day out and would thoroughly recommend it.

C'est vrai qu'il est plus facile de comprendre le site avec un guide. C'est pourquoi nous proposons des visites guidées, tous les dimanches, jours fériés et vacances scolaires, et quatre fois par jour en juillet et août. Néanmoins, vous pouvez tout à fait visiter le site (qui est en accès libre et gratuit) tout seul ; des panneaux sont installés sur les secteurs de fouille pour vous donner des explications. Mais le mieux reste bien sûr de visiter d'abord le musée, qui vous livrera tous les secrets du site et de son occupation gauloise.

Le Beuvray est un site superbe dominant le Sud Morvan. Ce mont, le troisième du Morvan en altitude doit sa "renaissance" à la création du musée de Bibracte et au Centre de Recherches créés dans les années 80. Outre le très intéressant musée de Bibracte, didactique, moderne et intelligent vous pouvez parcourir les différents chantiers de fouille de ce site. Des visites guidées sont organisées tout au long de l'année mais on peut également se promener librement sur le Mont Beuvray ; pendant l'été, si la montée vous paraît difficile, des bus du conseil général gratuits vous conduisent au sommet à peu près tous les 1/4 d'heure. C'est dans ce lieu, en face du futur site d'Autun que César aurait écrit "la guerre des Gaules" à l'hiver 52.On découvre ici une ville gallo-romaine où les gaulois avaient des rapports commerciaux avec les romains et copiaient leur mode de vie au fil du temps.

Après la visite du très beau musée (architecture moderne intelligente pour des antiquités), très complet, très intéressant et qui peut intéresser tous les âges, nous avons gravi le Mont Beuvray pour découvrir les lieux de fouilles. Les panneaux didactiques sont bien faits, mais le fléchage pour aller d'un endroit à l'autre est trop rare. La vue au (presque) sommet est très belle.Une enrichissante après-midi dans notre passé, qui nous rappelle que toute splendeur peut rapidement laisser place à une ruine.