Archéoforum, Archaeological museum under Place Saint-Lambert, Liège, Belgium
Archéoforum is an underground archaeological museum beneath Place Saint-Lambert that displays remains spanning from prehistoric times to the 18th century. The site contains foundations of a former cathedral as well as a Roman villa that was uncovered during utility work installation.
The site was discovered in 1905 when utility work beneath Place Saint-Lambert unearthed significant archaeological remains, revealing centuries of human occupation. These findings led to the eventual development of the museum to preserve and display what lay beneath the city surface.
The name refers to the Roman forum that once occupied this ground, and visitors can observe how different periods are layered within the foundations themselves. The displays show how people lived and left their marks across thousands of years in the same location.
The museum is underground and easily accessed from the plaza above, with temperatures remaining consistent year-round below ground. Comfortable footwear is recommended since visitors navigate through multiple levels and passages to explore the different areas.
Excavations took place between 2005 and 2007 while the museum was already open to visitors, offering a rare glimpse into active archaeological research methods. This open research model allowed the public to directly observe how archaeologists work and discover new findings.
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