Studio Adrien Gardère

Located in the heart of Sion’s Old Town, the Jesuit Church provides a remarkable setting for the first-ever gathering of 23 Neolithic stelae. The exhibition design developed by Studio Adrien Gardère creates a dialogue between the building’s neoclassical architecture and the monumentality of these prehistoric works. It offers visitors a direct encounter with these striking stone figures, which bear witness to the social organisation, beliefs, and power structures of Alpine communities during the 3rd millennium BCE.

To discover the stelae displayed throughout the nave and choir of the church, visitors are invited to explore the exhibition freely, following a route that includes two monumental platforms. Careful attention to positioning, lighting, and spatial composition highlights the complex history of the stelae, makes the archaeological excavation process tangible, and fully respects the heritage character of the site.

Designed for a broad audience, the exhibition places visitors and cultural mediation at its core. Multimedia installations guide visitors through the exhibition and reveal details often invisible to the naked eye, particularly engravings altered by the passage of time. Large-scale projections, illustrations, a scale model, and audio guides provide insight into the many lives of the stelae, their creation, use, transformation, and eventual rediscovery by archaeologists.