Dive into the heart of the picturesque village of Les Matelles and let yourself be seduced by the Maison des Consuls, a true jewel of freshness just waiting to be explored.

Did you know? You will enter the first museum of prehistory created in the Hérault. It has fascinated many visitors since its opening in 1951.

Maisons des Consuls - Les Matelles - Grand Pic Saint-Loup - Herault - Occitanie 2

It is Lisa who warmly welcomes you near the green wall on the ground floor.

Your adventure begins by descending into the vaulted room containing the permanent archaeological collection, the result of archaeological research on the territory of the Grand Pic Saint-Loup.

Maisons des Consuls - Les Matelles - Grand Pic Saint-Loup - Herault - Occitanie 9

Explore the treasures of this collection: pottery, tools, flint and jewelry or bones of Palaeolithic animals (bear teeth, urus bones, horse, ibex, reindeer and saiga antelope), this exceptional collection offers a wide panorama on the prehistory of the North-Montpellier scrubland, from the Upper Palaeolithic to the Final Neolithic.

Do not miss to admire the statue-menhir of Cazarils (loan of the town of Viols-en-Laval), a true witness of the art and beliefs of men of the late Neolithic.

Maisons des Consuls - Les Matelles - Grand Pic Saint-Loup - Herault - Occitanie 5

Discovered in the 50s in an oval tomb (-2800/ -2300), this statue-menhir is a small limestone slab 72 cm high with engraved patterns. His face, made up of parallel overlapping lines, has eyes in false relief, underlined by sorts of tattoos. You will also notice a necklace, engraved according to the same process, with perhaps the representation of a pearl.

Maisons des Consuls - Les Matelles - Grand Pic Saint-Loup - Herault - Occitanie 6

Then, embark on an immersive experience in the heart of the temporary exhibition entitled "Autant que faire se peut - As much as possible". This intriguing name reveals a surprising exhibition that explores creativity at all levels. In this exhibition, you will discover that creation is everywhere, all the time, and that everything is a question of point of view, positioning and look.

Maisons des Consuls - Les Matelles - Grand Pic Saint-Loup - Herault - Occitanie 8

Lisa, the curator of the exhibition, will be there to answer all your questions. Do not hesitate to ask her, she will be happy to share her passion for this unique place and her expertise on the works exhibited.

The Maison des Consuls awaits you for an enriching and immersive experience at the heart of history and creativity. Do not miss this opportunity to dive into the past and discover the hidden wonders of this exceptional museum.

To find out more