There are many well-regarded museums and art galleries throughout the South of France and details of some of them are given here. It is always worth checking their websites to see what temporary exhibitions are on. Because of the small size of many of these establishments, it often means that their permanent collections are not on show when special exhibitions are being staged. There are also hundreds of studios and workshops, far too numerous to list, which offer an insight into how contemporary artists are responding to this unique region.
Click for a map showing the location of galleries and museums.
AIX-EN-PROVENCE Musée Granet (1) A major collection of European painting including works by Rembrandt, Van Dyke and Ingres. The impressionists are well-represented and there are nine paintings by Cézanne, perhaps the town’s most famous son. Place Saint Jean de Malte, Aix-en-Provence Tel: 33 (0)4 42 52 88 32 Website: www.museegranet-aixenprovence.fr
The studio at Les Lauves (2) Cézanne’s last studio in Aix and although there are no original works on display the atmosphere of the place is remarkable, with much of his equipment and paraphanalia on display. It is a thrill to see the plaster cherub that features in several of his still life paintings.
Jas de Bouffan (3) The Cézanne family home and gardens which provided the subjects for many paintings is open to the public. Although there is no access to the interior of the house there is an informative guided tour around the grounds and an impressive video presentation.
ALBI Musée Toulouse-Lautrec (4) Housed in the magnificent Palais de la Berbie this is the largest collection of works by the artist anywhere in the world and includes paintings, drawings, lithographs and preparatory studies for posters from every period of his life. Palais de la Berbie, Place Sainte Cécile, Albi Tel: 33 (0)5 63 49 58 97 Fax: 33 (0)5 63 49 48 88 Email: musee-rigaud@mairie-perpignan.com Website: www.museetoulouselautrec.net
ANTIBES Musée Picasso (5) The magnificent medieval Château Grimaldi, built on ancient Greek foundations, is home to an important collection of work by Picasso that he created while staying here in 1946. Paintings by Nicolas de Staël, Hans Hartung and Anna-Eva Bergman are also to be seen. Place Mariejol, Antibes Tel: 33 (0)4 92 90 54 28 Website: www.antibes-juanlespins.co.uk/le musee-picasso/antibes
ARLES Musée Réattu (6) The name is taken from Jacques Réattu (1760–1833) a local artist who achieved international recognition for his academic painting in the neo-classical style. His former residence is now home to a collection of contempory art but also to examples from the Provençal school of the 18th and 19th centuries and most significantly to a set of 57 drawings by Picasso. Sadly, there are no works by Van Gogh. 10 rue du Grand Prieuré, Arles Tel: 33 (0)4 90 49 37 58 Fax: 33 (0)4 90 14 62 45 Website: www.museereattu.arles.fr
AVIGNON Musée Calvet (7) At the behest of Napoleon this museum was established in 1811 and now occupies an impressive city mansion. Although it started as an archaeological museum it has acquired an extensive collection of Provençal paintings over the years, including work by Claude-Joseph Vernet. Hôtel Villeneuve-Martignan, 65 rue Joseph Vernet, Avignon Tel: 33 (0)4 90 86 33 84 Fax: 33 (0)4 90 49 36 97 Email: contact@fondation-calvet.org Website: www.musee-calvet.org
BIOT Musée National Fernand Léger (8) A comprehensive collection of work in a variety of media by this influential artist encompassing cubism, tubism and abstraction. Chemin du Val de Pome, Biot Tel: 33 (0)4 92 91 50 20 Fax: 33 (0)4 92 91 50 31 Website: www.musee-nationaux-alpesmaritimes.fr/en/F.leger
CAGNES-SUR-MER (HAUTE DE CAGNES) Musée Renoir (Domain des Collettes) (9) At the time of writing the house and grounds are closed for refurbishment but they are due to re-open at the end of July 2013. When they do the museum will give a fascinating insight into the later life and work of Renoir who lived here from 1907 until his death in 1919. Chemin des Collettes, Cagnes-sur-Mer Tel: 33 (0)4 93 20 61 07 Website: www.cagnes-tourisme.com
CANNES Musée de la Castre (10) The views from the tower of the castle are magnificent and there is a modest collection of paintings by Provençal artists such as Pellegrino, Crémieux, Buttura and Contini. Place de la Castre, Le Suquet, Cannes Tel: 33 (0)4 93 38 55 26 Fax: (0)4 93 38 81 50 Website: www.cannes.com
GRASSE Villa-Musée Jean-Honoré Fragonard (11) There are magnificent murals painted by the artist in this impressive mansion but other paintings on show are mainly copies. 23 boulevard Fragonard, Grasse Tel: 33 (0)4 93 38 55 26 Fax: (0)4 93 38 81 50 Email: info@museedegrasse.com Website: www.museesdegrasse.com
L’ESTAQUE Fondation Monticelli Regretably this gallery is no longer open.
LODÈVE Musée de Lodève (12) The core of the fine art section is an impressive collection of work by the well-regarded sculptor Paul Dardé but the reason for including the museum in this list is its record of presenting temporary exhibitions relating to artists of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. For example, Theo Van Rysselberghe: A Wonderous Moment (2012), Louis Valtat: At the Dawn of Fauvism (2011), From Gauguin to the Nabis: The Right to Try Everything (2010) and Bonnard: Discerning Observer of the Everyday (2009). It is always worth checking their website for the current exhibition. Square Georges Auric, Lodève Tel: 33 (0)4 67 88 86 10 Fax: 33 (0)4 67 44 48 33 Email: museelodeve@lodevoisetlarzac.fr Website: www.museelodeve.fr
MARSEILLE Musée Cantini (13) Housed in an impressive private villa in the heart of the old town this is an important collection of modern masters including Picasso, Matisse, Dufy, Léger and Picabia. 19 Rue Grignan, 13006 Marseille Tel: 33 (0)4 91 54 77 75 Fax: 33 (0)4 55 03 01 Email: dgac-musee-cantini@marseille.fr Website: via www.marseille.fr
Musée Regards de Provence (14) This is a must-see destination for anyone interested in the very best of Provençal painting. It is housed in the former sanitary station and is part of the impressive redevelopment of an area of the old port. In addition to a ‘second-to-none’ collection of work celebrating the landscapes of Provence by artists such as Dufy, Friesz, Manguin, Monticelli, Olive, Ponson, Valtat and Ziem the gallery also hosts an impressive programme of temporary exhibitions. Allée Regards de Provence/Rue Vaudoyer, 13002 Marseille Tel: 33 (0)4 96 17 40 40 Email: via website Website: www.museeregardsdeprovence.com
Musée des Beaux-Arts (15) This is the oldest museum in Marseille and is located in the Palais Longchamp. It focuses on Provençal painting from the 17th and 18th centuries with work by Mignard, Puget, Monticelli, Loubon and Guigou. There is also a collection of French, Italian and Flemish paintings by the likes of Perugina, Rubens, David and Courbet. Palais Longchamp, 13004 Marseille Tel: 33 (0)4 91 14 59 30 Email: musee-beauxarts@marseille.fr Website: via www.marseille.fr MARTIGUES Musée Ziem (16) Often referred to as ‘The Venice of Provence’, Martigues features in the work of several famous artists including Raoul Dufy and, of course, Felix Ziem. There is still charm to be found in the old town but the surrounding area is now dominated by industrial installations. The museum is mainly devoted to the work of Ziem including a recreation of his studio. Boulevard du 14 Juillet, Martigues Tel: 33 (0)4 42 41 39 60 Fax: 33 (0)4 42 80 33 26
MENTON Musée des Beaux-Arts (17) Once a summer residence for the Grimaldi Princes of Monaco this grand building now houses a collection of artworks from the thirteenth to the twentieth centuries. From the later period there are paintings by Dufy, Derain, Paul Delvaux, Serge Poliakoff and Graham Sutherland Palais Carnolès, 3 avenue de la Madone, Menton Tel: 33 (0)4 93 35 49 71 Fax: 33 (0)4 92 10 05 40 Website: www.menton.fr/Musee-des-Beaux-Arts
Musée Jean Cocteau Collection Severin Wunderman The American collector was fascinated by the poet and artist and donated some 1800 works by Cocteau and others including Picasso, Modigliani and Bérard to the town and these are housed in a stunning new building on the waterfront by architect Rudy Ricciotti. there is also a programme of temporary exhibitions. 2 Quai de Monléon, 06500 Menton Tel: 33 (0)4 89 81 52 50 Email: via website Website: www.museecocteaumenton.fr
NICE Musée des Beaux-Arts Jules Chéret (18) Another former private mansion of very grand proportions housing an impressive collection of paintings from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries including works by Fragonard and Bronzino. The Impressionists and Post-Impressionists are also represented including works by Eugène Boudin, Pierre Bonnard, Raoul Dufy, Kees van Dongen amongst others. There are also works by two influential female artists, Marie Baskhirtseff and Louise Breslau as well as pastels by Jules Chéret himself, often called the ‘father of the modern poster’. 33 avenue des Baumettes, Nice Tel: 33 (0)4 92 15 28 28 Fax: 33 (0)4 92 15 28 25 Website: www.musee-beaux-arts-nice.org
Musée Matisse (19) Matisse lived and worked for most of the later part of his life in and around Nice and the collection on display is formed of works presented by the artist himself and subsequently by his heirs and the State and now represents a stunning overview of his entire career in paintings, sculptures, drawings, engravings, paper cut-outs and illustrated books. 164 avenue des Arènes de Ciiez, Nice Tel: 33 (0)4 93 81 08 08 Fax: 33 (0)4 93 53 00 22 Email: musee.matisse@ville-nice.fr Website: www.musee-matisse-nice.org
Musée National Marc-Chagall (20) This is purpose built museum dating from 1970 and was constructed to house 17 large paintings by the artist depicting the Message biblique. This original donation has been added to over the years since the artist’s death in 1985. 16 avenue du Docteur Ménard, Nice Tel: 33 (0)4 93 53 87 20 Fax: 33 (0)4 93 53 87 39 Website: www.musees-nationaux-alpesmaritimes.fr
MONTPELLIER Musée Fabre (21) This occupies a former Jesuit college and is named after the local artist François-Xavier Fabre. After extensive refurbishment it is now one of the largest museums in France and in addition to collections of all the major European Schools of painting there are works by Courbet, Bazille (the Impressionist who was tragically killed in the Franco-Prussian War, and a local man), Matisse, Van Dongen, Dufy and Delaunay. 13 rue Montpelliéret, Montpellier Tel: 33 (0)5 67 14 83 00 Fax: 33 (0)5 67 66 09 20 Email: musee.fabre@montpellier-agglo.com Website: www.museefabre-en.montpellier-agglo.com
PERPIGNAN Musée Hyacinthe Rigaud (22) The museum is named after the French artist born in 1659 who first studied at nearby Montpellier and who became a well-regarded portraitist at the court of Versailles. On display are artworks from the Gothic period to the twentieth century and relevant to the content of this site are small works by Ingres, Terrus (a friend of Derain), Derain, Dufy and Picasso, amongst others. 16, rue de l’Ange, Perpignan Tel: 33 (0)4 68 35 43 40 Fax: 33 (0)4 68 34 76 47 Email: musee-rigaud@mairie-perpignan.com
SAINT-PAUL-DE-VENCE Fondation Maeght (23) This must be one of the most important collections of twentieth century artworks in Europe, housed in a purpose-built museum dating from 1964 and financed by Marguerite and Aimé Maeght. The list of names represented here is impressive and includes Bonnard, Braque, Calder, Chagall, Giacometti, Léger and Miró as well as artists still working today. 623 chemin des Gardettes, Saint-Paul-de-Vence Tel: 33 (0)4 93 32 81 63 Fax: 33 (0)4 93 32 53 22 Email: accueil@fondation-maeght.com Website: www.fondation-maeght.com
SAINT-RÉMY-DE-PROVENCE Musée Estrine Centre d’art Présence Van Gogh (24) The town is best-known for being where Van Gogh was a patient at the Saint Paul de Mausole Asylum and the area inspired him to paint about 150 canvases. Although there are no originals by the artist on display, there are video presentations and themed exhibits based on his life and work. 8 rue Estrine, Saint-Rémy de Provence Tel: 33 (0)4 90 92 34 72 Fax: 33 (0)4 90 92 36 73 Website: www.musees-mediterranee.org
SAINT-TROPÈZ Musée de l’Annonciade (25) The sixteenth chapel of Notre-Dame de l’Annonciade was converted to a gallery in 1955 and is now home to an impressive collection of Post-impressionist works including paintings by Derain, Dunoyer de Segonzac, Signac, Seurat, Bonnard, Matisse, Van Dongen, Roussel and Denis. 2 rue de l’Annonciade, Saint-Tropèz Tel: 33 (0)4 94 17 84 10 Fax: 33 (0)4 94 97 87 24 Website: www.saint-tropez.fr
VALLAURIS Musée Magnelli/Musée de la Ceramique (26) The former priory of the Abbey of Lérins is now home to a large collection of artworks by the Italian painter Alberto Magnelli, a contemporary of Picasso who also created the monumental War and Peace in the chapel. There is also an impressive collection of ceramics. Place de la Libération, Vallauris Tel: 33 (0)4 93 64 71 83 Website: www.vallauris-golfe-juan.fr
VENCE La Chapelle du Rosaire (27) The whole concept of a sacred art monument was that of Henri Matisse working between 1948 and 1951 and it now stands as a testament to the genius of this artist. Everything from the architectural design to stained glass, ceramics and priestly vestments were designed by Matisse and in his words ‘this work required me four years of an exclusive and untiring effort and it is the fruit of my whole working life. In spite of all its imperfections I consider it as my masterpiece’. 466 avenue Henri-Matisse, Vence Website: www.vence.fr/the-rosaire-chapel?lang=en
