The Oppidum museum has reopened its doors, giving you the opportunity to learn more about the influx of all the civilisations that have followed one another here! Its position offers a unique panorama, between the Cevennes and the Pyrenees, over the Languedoc plain and as far as the distant horizon!

First of all, what’s an OPPIDUM?

An Oppidum is the name given by Cesar to fortified Celtic towns.

The Oppidum d’Enserune is an archeological site located in the Herault department in France. It is an ancient Celtic oppidum dating from the Iron Age The oppidum was rediscovered in the 19th century and has been investigated several times since then.

The Oppidum museum was created to present the results of archeological excavations on the site, as well as to highlight the importance of this archeological site for the understanding of the history of the region. Discover the site in its territory and on the scale of the Mediterranean basin, between the Celtic world and the Iberian, Greek and Oriental, Etruscan and Roman worlds!

The exhibition includes artefacts found at the site, such as pottery, weapons and bronze jewellery, as well as models and explanatory drawings to help understand daily life in the Oppidum. The museum also offers activities for children, guided tours and conferences for adults.

The museum is a fascinating place for history and archaeology enthusiasts, as well as for those interested in the Celtic peoples. It offers a unique opportunity to discover the region’s past and to understand the importance of this archaeological site. 

USEFUL INFORMATION!

FROM 1st APRIL TO 30th SEPTEMBER

• Open from 9.30am to 12.30pm and from 2pm to 6.30pm
  Closed on Mondays

FROM OCTOBER TO MARCH 

• 9:30-12:30 and 14:00-17:30
  Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays

INDIVIDUAL PRICE: 6€.

Free for under 18-year-olds, 18-25 year olds and people with disabilities and their carers.

WHAT ABOUT US? 

The Domaine de Soustres became a large Roman villa, then, with the passage of the invasions, a Visigoth hamlet, then Saracen, a monastery, before becoming a seigneurial estate. After the Albigensian war against the Cathars (beginning of the 13th century), the estate became part of the diocese of Narbonne under the name of “Garsagas et Balmas”. In the middle of the 16th century, the estate belonged to four owners, including Jaume Soustre, whose grandson, Pierre Thomas Soustre, bought all the land. The Domaine de Soustres was born around 1650 and through marriage, the estate became part of the “de Portalon” family and remained so until the early 1970’s when it was bought by the “de Bools” family.

Some remains have been preserved on the estate, notably the Cross in our courtyard. The cross of Enserune, it is represented on this old bottle!

Discovered by Abbé Giniès, in the plots of the domain, it is the base of a column which must have belonged to a public building. It was then surmounted by a Roman column (being a Roman farm at the time), it was surmounted by a cross in the 19th century following its discovery. It has stood the test of time!

All these influences have created the diversity of our land, each civilisation having brought its own personal touch and culture. The Domaine de Soustres is a crossroads of all these societies!

Now that you have all the history, we invite you to come and visit this museum and if you are there this summer, don’t forget, cap and water mandatory!

Räyann