Museum / Gallery Sights in Provence

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.

Located in the former farmhouse at Rousty Bridge the Camargue Museum reopened in November 2013 after a year of renovation.

See the universe projected onto the roof of a large room filled with 65 comfortable seats, and wonder at the scale of it all.

The museum groups 3 schools of painting - Toulon, Bourges and Paris - with over 280 works on show.

A few months before his death in 1955, artist Fernand Léger acquired a farmhouse at the foot of the village of Biot. It was here that his widow Nadia Leger, decided to create a museum to honour him and showcase his life's work.

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.

This museum houses a collection of around 250 chandeliers and a large library and collection of photos dedicated to these wonderful pieces of art.

Georges Mazoyer was an accomplished diver and a talented artists. In 1975 he was inspired to create a museum full of his most treasured souvenirs from the sea and as a gallery for his own art.

Aurélien Raynaud displays his unique gift in capturing the wonderful wildlife kingdom in a range of artforms.

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

The building itself has been protected as a historic monument since 1979 and is worth the journey just for that, let alone the art works inside.

This museum exhibits photos, records and videos of life during the occupation of France, the resistance movement in the Vaucluse and pieces by poets, writers and artists.

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.

The Petit Palais museum owes its name to the familiar name of the Archbishops Palace in which it is installed, name that it was given by reference to the great neighbouring palace: the Palais des Papes.

With items from prehistoric times, and fine arts and decorative arts from as early as the 17th century, all the way up to the first half of the 20th century.

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.

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

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