Description: Vieux-la-Romaine is an excellent hands on and informative museum on the Romans. Staff are very willing to help. The museum is situated in a new purpose built building on the archaeological site where there is not only the museum to visit but also several excavations.

The main excavation (200m south of the museum) is a vast dwelling of about 1500m², home of a rich townsperson. An explanatory video of the site is also available with an English commentary and worth viewing before you visit the rest of the site. A free discovery booklet with a mini quiz is available. Unfortunately this is in French so a French speaker will need to help with any translations. There is a further quiz to test your five senses – boxes hide objects, smells and even noises all on the theme of ‘looking after yourself’ for you to guess. This is all great fun for children and really brings history alive.

Location: Located on the eastern edge of the small village of Vieux 8kms SW of Caen. Head south from Caen on D562 in the direction of Thury-Harcourt. 2km after the intersection with the Caen péripherique turn right towards Vieux on D89.

General Info: Around €4* for adults and children under 15 free. Open all year – every day in July and August 10.00-18.00 and every day except Wednesday for the rest of the year.

Website: www.romanmuseum.com

Our recommendations: Make sure you don’t do as we did and arrive too late in the day to appreciate all the site has to offer.

For the children: This museum is ideal for the whole family, but in particular for primary school children who have studied (or are about to study) the Romans.

* please note that all price are a guide only and can change. See the providers’ official websites for latest information

 

Here’s more information to make the most of your visit to Normandy: