Museum / Gallery Sights in Provence

This family run lavender distillery situated on the scenic drive between Buoux and Apt, offers guided visits of the lavender distillation and manufacture of essential oils, floral waters.

Hungarian artist Victor Vasarely established this foundation in 1966 with the aim of promoting 'art for all' where art blends beautifully with architecture in the 'city of tomorrow'.

Some 50 white marble sculptures by Maria de Faykod, renowned sculptor with numerous existing works. She had the original idea to open a garden which exhibit some of her work to the public.

The Musee des Tapisseries houses a rich collection of 17th and 18th Century tapestries, including a collection called 'Grotesques' - theatrical taspestrie made in Beauvais cir. 1689, and also 'L'histoire de Don Quichotte' of 1735 unique in the world.

Opened in 1991, the Yves Brayer Museum displays a hundred or so canvas paintings, watercolours and drawings representative of the artist's work.

Acquired in 2001 the Commanderie de Peyrassol, an old Knights Templar staging post, is now one of the outstanding vineyards of Provence. Its reds, whites and rosés are to be found in the finest dining establishments in France and throughout the world.

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’.

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.

This museum was founded in 1821 and the collection was originally housed in the Maison Carree, moving to its current location in 1907.

The tour will tell you the fascinating story of soap in Provence, which starts in the Middle Ages.

The Muséum d'Aix was founded in 1838 by Henri Coquand, geologist ; it is one of the oldest in Provence.

The Collection Lambert is a wonderful gallery featuring modern art from the 1960's.

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.

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.

An old quarry, the Carrieres de Bibemus lies on the western slopes of Montagne St Victoire and is a place that inspired Paul Cezanne through out his life.

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

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.