What BIBRACTE EPCC does

BIBRACTE EPCC (Établissement Public de Coopération Culturelle) is a French public cultural establishment that manages the Mont Beuvray archaeological site, the Musée de Bibracte, and the European Archaeological Centre. The organization operates a 200-hectare Gallic oppidum in Burgundy Franche-Comté containing the remains of the 2,000-year-old capital of the Aedui people, supported by a research program relaunched in 1984 under CNRS coordination that has conducted more than 300 excavation operations across 40 sectors. The 1995 museum, designed by architect Pierre-Louis Faloci (Grand Prix national de l'architecture 2018), presents permanent galleries on Celtic urbanization alongside rotating exhibitions, including the 2026 'Empreintes du sacré' show.

The institution's technology stack is centered on conventional archaeological methodology (geophysical surveys, Lidar remote sensing, manual excavation techniques) augmented by a proprietary geolocation web and mobile application called La Boussole (available on iOS and Android) and the 'Archives de la Ville' interactive 3D archive system on tablets. An archaeological excavation simulator supports training for students and youth, while the Bibractothèque digital library and virtual gallery expose the research collection online. Cartography is built on Mapbox and IGN (Institut national de l'information géographique et forestière) geographic data, and the site is integrated into French national digital infrastructure including social media channels (Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, TripAdvisor) and an email newsletter.

The business model is a hybrid public-commercial structure. The 2025 operating budget of €5.6M is funded approximately 48% by member contributions (French State, Regional Council, Departments), 30% by activity revenue (museum admissions, site guided tours, restaurant Le Chaudron, educational programs, research publications, museum shop), and 8% by action subsidies. Go-to-market combines direct sales through group reservation systems for K-12 schools and adult associations, event-driven visitor engagement (temporary exhibitions, concerts, ultra-trail running, astronomical observations), and community programming (teen excavation camps, science workshops). Customers are segmented across individual tourists and families, school groups, adult associations, and the European archaeological research community. The EPCC governance structure has no equity owners, no parent company, and no commercial shareholders.

Name

BIBRACTE EPCC

Legal name

Bibracte EPCC - Etablissement Public de Coopération Culturelle

Website

https://bibracte.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

BIBRACTE EPCC is a French public cultural establishment operating the Mont Beuvray archaeological site, the Musée de Bibracte, and a European Archaeological Centre. It serves tourists, K-12 school groups, adult associations, and research teams through museum visits, guided tours, educational programs, and ongoing archaeological excavation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Archaeological Heritage Museum

NAICS

Historical Sites (71212), Museums (712110), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Archaeological Sites & Heritage Interpretation Centers (THAJADAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Historic Sites, Heritage Landmarks & Archaeological Sites (THAJACAC), History Museums (THAJADAB), History, Heritage & Museum-Focused Study Tours (THAKAGAN)

Keywords

• Archaeological heritage tourism
• Cultural museum services
• Heritage site education
• Museum visitor experiences
• Archaeological site management

Headquarters

HQ city

Glux-en-Glenne

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Operating Budget Funding: Budget of approximately 5.6 M€ (2025), balanced through member contributions (48% from State, Region, and Departments), activity revenue (30%), and action-based subsidies (8%)
2. Museum and Site Admissions: Ticket sales for museum visits, guided tours, and archaeological site access with various pricing tiers
3. Restaurant Le Chaudron: Gaulish-inspired dining experience open March to November, offering themed menus based on archaeological food discoveries
4. Research Publications: Sale of Bibracte collection publications documenting research results from Mont Beuvray and Aeduan territory
5. Museum Shop: Retail sales of books, souvenirs, regional products, and Bibracte merchandise
6. Educational Programs: School visits, workshops, discovery days, and overnight stays with accommodation at approved centers

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

BIBRACTE EPCC operates the archaeological site of Mont Beuvray, an ancient Gallic oppidum and former capital of the Aedui people, alongside the Musée de Bibracte, a purpose-built archaeology museum designed by architect Pierre-Louis Faloci. The public establishment manages visitor admissions, guided tours, educational programs for school groups and adults, the Gaulish-themed Restaurant Le Chaudron, a museum shop, and digital tools including the geolocation webapp La Boussole. Its mission combines ongoing archaeological research conducted since 1984 with cultural tourism, heritage education, and public engagement on a 200-hectare site classified as a Grand Site de France.

Product overview

BIBRACTE EPCC operates a unified heritage destination combining a museum (Musée de Bibracte), an archaeological site (Mont Beuvray oppidum), and visitor services including the La Boussole geolocation app, Restaurant Le Chaudron, educational programs, and a digital library (Bibractothèque). The offering centers on the 2000-year-old Gaulish capital with its 1995 museum designed by Pierre-Louis Faloci, supported by digital tools, retail (boutique), dining (restaurant), and cultural programming (temporary exhibitions, events). The establishment serves diverse audiences through self-guided and guided experiences, school programs, and group activities, all connected through the La Boussole mobile/web application.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• La Boussole: Digital companion app/webapp for visiting Bibracte site, providing geolocation and archaeological information
• Restaurant Le Chaudron

Products and services

• Musée de Bibracte The Bibracte Museum, built in 1995 by architect Pierre-Louis Faloci, presents the history of the Gallic city of Bibracte and its archaeological discoveries through two permanent galleries covering Celtic urbanization and the archaeological record of the oppidum. It serves individual visitors, families, school groups, and adult groups seeking immersive cultural heritage experiences.
• Site archéologique de Bibracte (Mont Beuvray) The archaeological site spanning approximately 200 hectares on Mont Beuvray contains the remains of the ancient Gallic capital of the Aedui people, with nearly 2 km of visible vestiges and 15 km of marked trails. The site is accessible via self-guided and guided tours for individual visitors and groups.
• La Boussole A geolocation-enabled web and mobile application available on iOS and Android that enhances visitor experience by revealing hidden archaeological remains, providing real-time information about ongoing excavations, events, and points of interest throughout the Bibracte site.
• Restaurant Le Chaudron A Gaulish-inspired restaurant open March to November offering seasonal menus prepared with locally-sourced ingredients known to Gauls, served in authentic Celtic-style ceramic dishes. Includes cervoise (traditional Gaulish beer) and Gallic wine tastings, plus a 'Gaulish Day' combined package.
• Programmes éducatifs pour groupes scolaires Educational programs for school groups from kindergarten to secondary school including guided tours, practical workshops, discovery days, and multi-day stays with accommodation at approved centers focused on archaeology, history, and environmental education.
• Activités pour groupes adultes Group activities including guided tours, Gallic cuisine experiences, wine tastings, and team-building programs tailored for adult groups, associations, and organizations.
• Chantier-école adolescents (13-17 ans) 10-day archaeological excavation camps for teenagers providing hands-on training in prospecting, excavation, artifact recording, and archaeological interpretation using Bibracte's excavation simulator; 2026 sessions in July and August.
• Exposition temporaire 'Empreintes du sacré' Rotating temporary exhibition exploring sacred practices of the Aedui, Sequani and Lingons peoples in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, featuring over 1,000 archaeological objects including many previously unseen items.
• Boutique du musée Museum shop offering publications, books on archaeology and history, Bibracte merchandise, local products including cervoise beer, and the Bibracte publishing collection.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100,000+ annual site visitors
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• La Nouvelle imprimerie LaballeryminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 June 2025Partner in forest regeneration project at Bibracte, supporting environmental sustainability initiatives
• Happah (Halte Au Pillage du Patrimoine Archéologique et Historique)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 January 2023Partnership to combat archaeological looting and illicit trafficking of cultural goods, joining with Marseille, Arles, and Paris institutions
• French State (l'État)coreOthersPrimary founding member providing institutional support, funding, and property ownership of Mont Beuvray slopes acquired in 1984
• Regional Council of Burgundy Franche-ComtécoreOthersKey institutional member providing regional funding and co-financing of digital Bibracte project with European regional development funds
• Centre national de la Recherche scientifique (CNRS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner providing scientific expertise and driving the international research program launched in 1984, coordinating European archaeological collaborations
• Centre des Monuments nationauxcoreOthersNational monuments authority as institutional member supporting heritage management and visitor services
• Morvan Regional Nature ParkcoreOthersCo-manager of Mont Beuvray summit property since late 1970s and partner in Grand Site de France initiative
• Canopé NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational network partner working with Bibracte PREAC pole to develop innovative pedagogical projects and train education professionals
• La Ferme du ReboutminorOthersLocal farm supplier providing organic honey for restaurant Le Chaudron
• La Petite Boulangerie du MorvanminorOthersLocal artisan bakery supplying sourdough country bread for restaurant Le Chaudron

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Lascaux (Centre International d'Art Pariétal): Site archéologique majeur en Dordogne qui, comme Bibracte, associe un site de visite, un musée d'interprétation et une forte capacité d'accueil touristique. Modèle comparable de site patrimonial français labellisé avec offre muséale immersive.
• Musée Saint-Raymond (Toulouse): Musée d'archéologie de Toulouse présentant des collections gallo-romaines et antiques, avec une surface proche et une orientation similaire à Bibracte sur l'archéologie celtique et romaine et la valorisation pédagogique.
• Musée national de Préhistoire (Les Eyzies-de-Tayac): Musée national au cœur du 'Périgord Noir' présentant les collections préhistoriques majeures de la Vallée de la Vézère. Comparable dans sa mission de valorisation de l'archéologie, la combinaison site/musée et la clientèle touristique patrimoniale.
• Carnac (Site mégalithique): Site archéologique majeur de Bretagne (mégalithes), avec Maison des Mégalithes et centre d'interprétation. Comparable par la combinaison site archéologique + musée, la double saisonnalité touristique et l'éducation patrimoniale.
• Musée d'Archéologie nationale (Domaine de Saint-Germain-en-Laye): Musée national dédié à l'archéologie, comparable par sa mission de présentation et d'interprétation du patrimoine archéologique français, et son rôle de centre de recherche et de conservation.

Regional players

• Carrières de Lumières (Les Baux-de-Provence): Site de spectacle immersif numérique en Provence, comparable par la combinaison d'un site physique d'exception et d'une expérience numérique immersive qui repositionne un lieu patrimonial.
• Musée du Pays Châtillonnais - Trésor de Vix: Musée archéologique régional en Bourgogne (Côte-d'Or) présentant le célèbre cratère de Vix et les collections celtiques. Comparable par la proximité géographique Bourgogne, la thématique celtique/Iron Age et le segment archéologique régional.
• Vulcania (Parc européen du volcanisme): Parc à thème scientifique en Auvergne dédié au volcanisme et à la géologie. Comparable par la logique de parc de découverte scientifique/éducative en zone rurale, la forte composante éducative K-12 et la visite saisonnière.

Broad incumbents

• Centre des monuments nationaux: Établissement public gestionnaire de plus de 100 monuments historiques français, membre de Bibracte EPCC. Comparable par le statut d'établissement public à mission patrimoniale et la gouvernance publique multi-tutelles.
• Château de Versailles - Établissement public: Grand établissement public patrimonial français avec musée, site, expositions temporaires et offre éducative. Comparable par la structure d'EPCC/établissement public, la labellisation Musée de France et l'ampleur de l'offre culturelle et éducative.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BibracteBeuvray
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/BibracteBeuvray
• Facebookfacebook.com/BibracteMusee
• Instagraminstagram.com/musee_bibracte
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bibracte-epcc

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BIBRACTE EPCC