Ah, I see you're now approaching the Musée romain de Nyon! To help you spot it, look for a modern building with an entrance under a concrete overhang bearing the name "MUSÉE ROMAIN" in clear letters. It's adjacent to a bright red wall that houses the entrance door. There's often a blue sign on this red wall which might catch your eye as well.
Now, let's dive into the fascinating world behind those doors!
The Musée romain de Nyon is an archaeological museum located in the town of Nyon, in the Canton of Vaud, Switzerland. It documents and conveys the archaeology and history of the Roman city, Colonia Iulia Equestris, or Noviodunum, from which modern Nyon emerged. This museum is recognized as a cultural property of national significance.
The museum was founded in 1860 by a teacher named Théodore Wellauer to display Roman artifacts unearthed in Nyon. Initially, it shared a space with Nyon's historical museum within the town's central castle. But after significant Roman-era findings were excavated in Nyon's old town during the 1970s, the city decided to establish a new dedicated museum. So, in 1978, the modern Musée romain was opened, designed by architect Gabriel Poncet, and later expanded in 1993 and 1996.
The museum's collection boasts numerous artifacts from the ancient city, such as architectural fragments, inscriptions, amphoras, everyday items, oil lamps, ceramics, coins, and jewelry. For many artifacts not on permanent display, the museum has a cultural heritage protection warehouse. It also informs visitors about ongoing archaeological research in Nyon and organizes the Film Festival, Festival international du film d’archéologie Nyon.
Ready to step back into Roman times? Let’s explore!
