Museum / Gallery Sights in Provence

Learn about the French defences from the Germans and the strategic position of this fort in the battle for Nice in World War two.

The Musee Reattu presents collections of ancient and contemporary paintings, sculptures, tapestry, photography and sounds. Amongst these is a collection of some fifty seven drawings by Picasso.

Just outside the village of Gordes lies the archaeological remains of a Bronze age village. The Village des Bories dates back to around 2000BC. You can still see ancient sheep pens, stone beehive houses (bories) and bread ovens.

Since 1989 the association ‘Présence Van Gogh’ has developped an important artistic programme, loyal to the desires of the great Dutch artist who lived in St.Remy de Provence between 1888-1889 who wished that ‘living artists are not unjustly unknown’.

This is Aix's fine art gallery, housed in the 17th century Palais de Malte. The collections includes works by a variety of European painters, including two by Rubens and a small selection of Paul Cezanne.

After your explorations in Glanum, it's worth visiting the asylum where Vincent van Gogh spent one year after the dramatic incident in Arles. The Monastère de St-Paul-de-Mausole is just a short ride from Glanum. Since 1605 it has functioned as a psychiatric hospital, remaining so today.

Building of this old mansion began back in 1715 when the first stone was laid. It was not fully complete until 1748, after all three stages of the building were finished.

Collector Michel Houche, has filled his house in Avignon, with over 4000 different pieces of Coca Cola memorabilia, creating a unique collection which tells an interesting story behind the brand.

Created in 1919, this museum is located inside a former townhouse, the Hôtel Mistral de Montdragon, which dates from the Renaissance period and is classified as an historical landmark.

This wine museum situated just outside of Ansouis is a must for all wine lovers, and a fascinating for all amateurs.

The Calvet Museum today houses works of art from the 16th to 20th century, and holds innumerable collections donated or bequeathed by patrons, art lovers and collectors, such as Baron de Montfaucon, Esprit Requien, Noël Biret, the Montlaur family, and recently Marcel Puech.

At the beginning of World War II, France interned all Austrian and German nationals who were living in France at the time, and Les Milles was the prison for the south eastern region.

This museum owes its growth to the naturalist Esprit Requien (1758-1851), who was the most famous of Avignon scientists of his time. From an old middle class family, he devoted himself early to botany. By age 18, he is active in the Botanical Garden of the city of Avignon and is a herbarium that quickly acquired great importance.

This museum was created to protect one of the most important petroglyph sites in Europe, in the Merveilles Valley (valley of Wonders).

Cezannes studio was created in Aix-en-Provence in 1902 and this is where he worked until he died in 1906.

This historic perfume factory is in the heart of the Old Town and is one of the oldest in Grasse, constructed in 1782.

A private collection of ornate, unusual and ancient corkscrews in the vineyards of the Domaine de La Citadelle.

Located in the heart of Arles the Museon Arlaten is really the 'Museum of Arles' itself. The museum was the initiative of the great local poet Frederic Mistral (1830-1914), it presents a all encompassing view of Provence from the end of the 18th Century up to today.