Discover the Gergovia Museum’s new exhibition: ‘Cut from Gallic cloth. Costume and jewellery in Gaul’
Figuring out Gallic people’s clothing has inspired countless fantasies since the 19th century – whether artistic or historical. What do archaeological discoveries reveal today about their dress habits ? The “Cut from Gallic cloth. Costume and jewellery in Gaul” exhibition bridges scientific research and experimental archaeology to offer an immersive experience that is both engaging and rigorously documented, plunging visitors into the cutthroat world of Gallic fashion.
Painters and sculptors of the 19th century were the first to attempt creating instantly recognisable depictions of the Gauls. However, they had access to only very limited historical and archaeological sources to reconstruct the various elements of their clothing, as textile fibers rarely survive over time. It was therefore in the imagination of artists specializing in historical scenes that an image of the Gaul in costume gradually took shape—an image that, while familiar to us today, is most often entirely fanciful.
Today, advances in archaeological analysis and in the preservation of organic remains, combined with experimental archaeology, allow for a better understanding of Gallic clothing. The exhibition “Cut from Gallic cloth” invites visitors to explore every stage in the creation of an authentic Gallic costume, from the production of fibers to the methods of tailoring and assembling garments, not to mention the processes involved in crafting items of adornment.
We invite you to discover the major trends of Celtic fashion during the last five centuries before the Common Era through an original journey designed as a true fashion boutique. All that remains is for you to step through the doors of the shop “In Braccae and Brogues”!
Discover this blend of history and style with the museum’s new temporary exhibition, from 4 April 2026 to 7 March 2027.
Exhibition designed with the scientific contribution of the Regional Archaeology Service (DRAC AURA), Moires Association, the Bargoin Museum of Clermont-Ferrand, and the archaeological service of the Puy-de-Dôme Department. We would like to thank the Musée de Picardie in Amiens, the Musée Anne de Beaujeu in Moulins, the Musée d’Archéologie et du Patrimoine Marius Vazeilles in Meymac, and the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Orléans for their object loans.