Atemporelle

What Atemporelle does

Atemporelle is a French employee-owned cooperative (SCOP SARL à capital variable) headquartered in Parthenay, Deux-Sèvres, operating since 1998 and incorporated as a SCOP in January 2011. The firm offers an end-to-end portfolio of heritage services spanning scientific study (historical research, building archaeology with state agrément as preventive archaeology operator, territorial inventories aligned with the Inventaire Général methodology), cultural mediation (guided tours, conferences, educational activities for schools, artistic spectacles, bespoke pedagogical kits, exhibitions, audio guides), professional training for heritage mediators, and publishing (books, children's booklets, and the regional cultural review Le Picton acquired in 2017).

The company employs 14 people who are all associated shareholders in the cooperative, contributing to management and strategic decisions; the team comprises historians, art historians, PhD archaeologists, an archéo-anthropologue, and state-licensed guides-conférenciers, each with 10–30 years of professional experience. Operations span historical and ongoing archaeological chantiers across departments 17, 19, 79, and 86, and historical inventory work covering more than 100 communes (Gâtine, Marais Poitevin, Pays Thouarsais, Guérande, Rennes Métropole).

Revenue is generated through professional services contracts with local authorities and cultural institutions (VPAH/PAH/VAH training engagements, municipal archaeology and restoration support, heritage signage), direct bookings for school groups and corporate outings (from €95 per session), public ticketed events (€6 per adult for programmed summer visits), recurring Le Picton magazine subscriptions, and rental/sale of exhibitions and educational kits. Marketing is primarily content-led via Le Picton, the company website, and earned regional media (Radio Gâtine, La Nouvelle République); educational offerings are listed on the PASS CULTURE and Adage platforms.

Name

Atemporelle

Legal name

Atemporelle SCOP SARL à capital variable

Website

https://atemporelle.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Atemporelle is a French employee-owned cooperative (SCOP) founded in 1998 that provides heritage research, building archaeology, cultural mediation, educational programs, professional training, and regional publishing (Le Picton) to local authorities, schools, cultural institutions, and the general public across France.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Heritage Services

NAICS

Historical Sites (712120), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAJADAG

Archaeological Sites & Heritage Interpretation Centers

Travel & Hospitality/Tours, Attractions & Experiences/Museums, Galleries & Cultural Institutions

SECONDARYBPAHAKAH

Historic Preservation & Conservation Planning

Business & Public Services/Professional Services (Legal, Accounting, Consulting)/Architecture, Design & Planning Services

SECONDARYTHAKAFAK

Cultural, Heritage & Arts Travel Agencies

Travel & Hospitality/Travel Agencies, Tour Operators & OTAs/Specialty/Niche Travel Agencies (Luxury, Adventure, Honeymoon, etc.)

SECONDARYTHAJACAC

Historic Sites, Heritage Landmarks & Archaeological Sites

Travel & Hospitality/Tours, Attractions & Experiences/Attractions & Landmarks (Observation Decks, Monuments, Scenic Sites)

SECONDARYEDAIAGAH

Cultural Heritage, Arts & Archaeology Service Programs

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/International Service Learning, Volunteering & Gap Year Programs

Keywords

• Heritage consulting services
• Building archaeology
• Cultural mediation
• Heritage inventories
• Preventive archaeology

Headquarters

HQ city

Parthenay

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Archaeological services: State-licensed operator of preventive archaeology, specializing in building archaeology for medieval and modern periods. Conducts field studies, structural analysis, restoration studies, and scientific follow-up on heritage building restoration projects.
2. Historical studies and heritage inventories: Documentary and historical studies for heritage projects, territorial heritage inventories at community scale, and oral memory collection. Delivered to local authorities, heritage site managers, and public planning bodies.
3. Cultural mediation and guided tours: Guided tours, conferences, educational activities for schools and leisure groups, and artistic events and spectacles. Offered year-round on a booking basis and via scheduled public events.
4. Professional training for heritage and cultural mediators: Continuous professional development training for heritage guides, museum mediators, and cultural site staff. Delivered for organizations certified Qualiopi; adapted to client needs and held on-site.
5. Publishing (Atemporelle Editions and Le Picton review): Since 2017, Atemporelle has served as publisher of the Le Picton regional cultural review and publishes books, guidebooks, pamphlets, and children's activity booklets. Revenue from book sales, subscriptions, and exhibition rentals.
6. Mediation support tools and exhibitions: Design and production of bespoke mediation tools (exhibitions, signage, educational kits, audio guides) and rental/sale of thematic exhibitions to cultural institutions and local authorities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Atemporelle delivers heritage services across three integrated areas: (1) scientific studies including historical documentary research, archaeology of built structures (archéologie du bâti) with state approval as a preventive archaeology operator, and territorial heritage inventories aligned with the Inventaire Général methodology; (2) cultural mediation including guided tours, conferences, artistic visit-spectacles, and educational activities for schools; (3) creative productions and publications including bespoke mediation tools (exhibitions, audio guides, pedagogical kits), professional training (Qualiopi), and the regional cultural review Le Picton along with heritage books and booklets.

Product overview

Atemporelle is a heritage services company offering a comprehensive portfolio from scientific study to cultural animation. The core offering spans three areas: (1) Scientific studies including historical studies, archaeology of built structures, and territorial heritage inventories; (2) Cultural mediation including guided visits, conferences, educational activities, and artistic performances/shows; (3) Creative productions including mediation tools (exhibitions, audio guides, pedagogical kits), professional training, and publications/editions. The company operates as a unified service portfolio rather than a software platform, with Le Picton magazine serving as an acquired editorial brand since 2017.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Le Picton: Regional cultural review covering heritage of Poitou and Charentes, published since 1983. Atemporelle obtained publisher status in 2017 and took direction of this magazine.

Products and services

• Historical Studies (Études historiques) Documentary and historical research services including bibliographic studies, archival research (national, departmental, municipal archives), iconographic studies, and historical synthesis. Delivered for local authorities, heritage site managers, and public planning bodies.
• Archaeology of Built Structures (Archéologie du bâti) Archaeological study of building elevations (walls, towers, structures, floors) with state approval as preventive archaeology operator, specializing in medieval and modern periods. Conducts field studies, structural analysis, restoration studies, and scientific follow-up on heritage building restoration projects.
• Heritage Inventories (Inventaires) Territory-scale heritage inventories covering architecture, monuments, sites, art objects, archaeology, traditional crafts, and industrial heritage, including oral memory documentation. Conducted using methodologies aligned with the French Inventaire Général.
• Guided Visits and Conferences (Visites guidées et conférences) Professional guided tours and conferences by state-approved lecturers (guide-conférenciers), covering cities, sites, and monuments throughout Deux-Sèvres and neighboring departments. Priced from €95 per group session; public programmed visits at €6 per adult.
• Shows and Artistic Creations (Spectacles et créations artistiques) Custom-designed artistic events combining heritage mediation with artists for site-specific performances, including visit-shows pairing guides with comedians, singers, musicians, and dancers. Adapted to specific sites, monuments, themes, and local communities.
• Educational Activities (Activités éducatives) Heritage education programs for youth including workshops, federating projects, artistic and cultural class projects (PAC), and bespoke pedagogical tool design for schools. Programs align with national curricula.
• Mediation Tools (Supports de médiation) Custom-designed pedagogical tools, educational kits, scale models, exhibitions, heritage signage (e.g., Corten steel markers), and audio guides for heritage interpretation and public engagement. Exhibitions available for rental or sale to institutions.
• Professional Training (Formations) Professional development courses for tourism and cultural mediators including heritage interpretation techniques, communication skills, and pedagogical approaches. Delivered for Qualiopi-certified training organizers, customized to client needs and held on-site.
• Atemporelle Editions (Publications) Publishing division producing books, booklets, tourist guides, visit brochures, children's activity books, and thematic heritage catalogues. Revenue from book sales and exhibition rentals.
• Le Picton Regional cultural magazine covering heritage of Poitou and Charentes, acquired by Atemporelle in 2017. Positioned as the reference publication for heritage enthusiasts and specialists, with thousands of regional readers. Available via quarterly subscription and newsstand distribution.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100+ communes inventoried across Gâtine (101), Marais Poitevin (42), Thouarsais, Guérande, and Rennes Métropole
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Radio GâtineminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 6 December 2024Radio Gâtine broadcast a feature about Atemporelle on 6 December 2024, describing the company as a 'human-sized archaeology firm' and helping to raise regional awareness and credibility.
• Reims (VPAH - Ville d'Art et d'Histoire)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 March 2023Reims VPAH commissioned Atemporelle to deliver a training program titled 'Heritage Mediation and Young and Family Audiences' in March 2023 for its cultural mediators.
• Montpellier-Métropole (PAH - Pays d'Art et d'Histoire)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 September 2021Montpellier-Métropole PAH commissioned Atemporelle for a training session titled 'Young Audiences and Playful Approaches' in September 2021.
• Amiens (VAH - Ville d'Art et d'Histoire)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2013Amiens VAH commissioned Atemporelle to deliver training on 'Heritage Mediation and Preschools (Maternelles)' in January 2013.
• L'Homme et la Pierre (association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAtemporelle is a key partner of the L'Homme et la Pierre association, which runs a network of quarry and geology heritage sites. Together they co-produce the annual 'Carrières et géologie' (Careers and Geology) program with 36 free visits per year, and Atemporelle guides lead educational activities at career sites.
• La Nouvelle RépubliqueminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLa Nouvelle République published a major feature article titled 'Deux-Sèvres : le destin national d'Atemporelle, la Scop basée à Parthenay' on 26 November 2023, significantly boosting national visibility for the company.
• Nickel Carton Cie / Didier GauduchoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDidier Gauduchon of Nickel Carton Cie is a longstanding creative partner who designed Atemporelle's graphic identity and website line design. He also co-scene-designed the 'Cordeliers' exhibition for the Pays d'art et d'histoire de Parthenay and contributed to the book '50 ans en Mouvement' celebrating the 50th anniversary of UR SCOP.
• Loïc Gaonac'hcoreTechnology or IntegrationLoïc Gaonac'h is the technical developer behind the Atemporelle website (atemporelle.org), ensuring the company's digital presence and online booking infrastructure.
• Anthony Parthenay (Agence EspritPub)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnthony Parthenay of Agence EspritPub handled graphic design and manufacturing of Corten steel markers and signage for the La Chapelle-Saint-Laurent cemetery heritage signage project.
• UR SCOP Poitou-Charentes / Nouvelle-AquitaineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAtemporelle participates in the regional SCOP cooperative network. The UR SCOP celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2015, and Marie-Pierre Baudry-Parthenay serves on its board, demonstrating active involvement in the cooperative ecosystem.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Fondation du Patrimoine: National heritage foundation supporting restoration and conservation of private and public heritage across France. Adjacent rather than directly competitive — Atemporelle provides the archaeological studies and mediation services that often support Fondation-funded restoration projects.

Broad incumbents

• INRAP: National public institute for preventive archaeological research in France, with statutory responsibility for most preventive archaeology operations. Competes with Atemporelle on the same archaeological commissions but at vastly larger scale, with a public mandate and regional infrastructure Atemporelle cannot match.
• Centre des monuments nationaux: Public operator managing over 100 national monuments across France, including heritage interpretation, educational programming, and exhibitions. Comparable in cultural mediation and visitor programming scope, though at much larger institutional scale.

Direct peers

• Eveha: One of the largest private preventive archaeology operators in France, conducting field studies, building archaeology, and historical research for public-sector clients. Directly comparable to Atemporelle in archaeological services, though operating at significantly larger scale with national coverage.
• Paléotime: Private French firm specializing in archaeological studies and historical research for public and private clients. Comparable in scientific methodology and client types to Atemporelle's heritage studies practice.
• Géoarchéon: Private French archaeological research firm conducting preventive archaeology and historical studies. Operates in the same regulatory framework (state agrément) and targets similar municipal and institutional clients.
• Hadès Archéologie: Private French preventive archaeology operator with state agrément, conducting field studies and heritage diagnostics. Closely comparable in service portfolio to Atemporelle's archaeological service line.
• Arkémine: Private French firm conducting preventive archaeology, building studies, and historical research for municipalities and developers. Comparable operating model and customer base to Atemporelle, with broader geographic footprint.
• La Geste Éditions: Independent French publisher based in western France focused on regional heritage, history, and culture books. Directly comparable to Atemporelle Editions' publishing arm and Le Picton review's content positioning.

Regional players

• L'Homme et la Pierre: Association partner of Atemporelle operating a network of quarry and geology heritage sites in Deux-Sèvres, co-producing the annual Carrières et géologie program. Comparable in regional heritage mediation programming, focused on geological rather than architectural heritage.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/atemporellescop
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/atemporelle

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Atemporelle