Prehistory, between utopia and reality: the free exhibition at the Collège de France

The Collège de France presents a major exhibition exploring how prehistory was shaped, between scientific rigor and spectacular reveries

From April 29 to July 19, 2026, the Collège de France is hosting the exhibition "Prehistory: between utopia and reality". This free tour invites visitors to discover how, since the 19th century, scientists and artists have invented and populated this vanished world with their hypotheses and fantasies. Between the image of a golden age of abundance and that of a savage "fire war", each era produced its own visions of our ancestors. The exhibition brings together exceptional pieces, from Paleolithic art to the earliest depictions of "prehistoric man". Through six thematic sections - from the earliest utopias to the place of prehistoric women - visitors are invited to reflect on what our roots say about our modern societies. It's an immersive journey, where material remains interact with the works of painters, sculptors and writers.