Museum / Gallery Sights in Provence

LUMA is a non profit organisation based in Arles..

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.

Objects from local and regional sources, with the exception of a fund of Greek ceramics, Etruscan, Italiot, derived from bequests from private collections and a deposit of the State (Campana).

Not only is this modern building home to the museum of contemporary art, but it also houses Nimes central library.

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 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 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.

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.

Museum charting the history of transport in the area, with lots of old vehicles to look at. Located in an old rail warehouse in Breil.

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.

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.

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

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 a popular museum to visit for anyone following the Lavender routes around Provence, attracting around 50,000 visitors per year. 

Finally visitors will be able to experience the cave paintings of the Grotte Chauvet in the state of the art replica that has been created by artists and builders.

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

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