Aix-en-Provence boasts numerous diverse museums, galleries and permanent exhibits showcasing the art, culture and history of the city.
Granet Museum (Musee Granet)
Situated next to the church of Saint Jean de Malta in the old Priory of the Knights of Malta, Granet Museum is named after the painter Francois Marius Granet whose creative works are preserved here. The museum also contains works of French painters of the XVIth to the XXth centuries and different schools of Dutch, Flemish, and Italian art. The archaeological department of this museum offers a chance to learn about the origins of Aix and the Celto-Ligurian civilisation of Entremont.
Address: Place Saint-Jean de Malte, 13100 Aix-en-Provence, France
The museum of Tapestries
A museum is located in the Palais de l'Ancien Archevêché (former Archbishop's Palace). This exceptional museum contains a rich collection of tapestries and furniture from the 17th and 18th centuries. Don’t forget to see a series of nine tapestries from the Manufacture Royale de Beauvais (Royal Manufactory of Beauvais) featuring scenes from Don Quixote de la Mancha by Cervantes.
Address: 28 Place des Martyrs-de-la-Résistance, Aix-en-Provence
The Natural History Museum
Located inside the Hotel Boyer d'Eguilles, build in 1672, the museum exhibits a fine collection of dinosaur fossils from Sainte-Victoire Mountain.
The Arbaud Museum
Exhibits - Pottery, Ceramics, Earthenware, Porcelain
The museum is named after its creator and donor. Arbaud museum is situated in the townhouse, built at the end of the 18th century. Paul Arbaud was a collector and bibliophile in Provence who gave his house to the Academy of Aix. The museum offers collections of Provençal earthenware, numerous manuscripts, and paintings.
Address: 2A Rue du 4 Septembre, 13100 Aix-en-Provence, France
Vendome Pavilion
The Vendome Pavilion is famous for the setting and the interior decor that describe the Aix residence of the 18th century. The pavilion is surrounded by a beautiful French park. The venue hosts temporary exhibitions of modern works, namely in the field of digital imaging and new technologies regularly.
Address: 13 Rue de la Molle, 13100 Aix-en-Provence, France
Musée du Vieil-Aix (Museum of Old Aix)
Founded by Vallon, the Old Aix museum houses a collection of objects from the past. The collection here resembles the traditions of Aix and its lands which is displayed in a magnificent townhouse of the XVIIth century. The artefacts include furniture, "santons", crib figures, costumes along with painting screens, and earthenware.
Address: 17 Rue Gaston de Saporta, 13100 Aix-en-Provence, France
Vasarely Foundation
Established in 1975 to promote the art and architecture of Aix, Vasarely Foundation is situated in the heart of Provence opposite the Sainte-Victoire Mountain in Cezanne country. The building of Vasarely foundation was constructed in 1976, which is a piece of art in itself. Inspired by Bauhaus architecture, it has 16 impressive hexagonal units. The main attraction is a room dedicated to visual art that holds 42 life-size monumental works by Victor Vasarely, the father of "cinetism". The artefacts displayed here are created with various techniques (relief, painting, and transparencies) and different materials (wood, metal, and plastics). The venue hosts prestigious exhibitions all around the year.
Address: 1 Avenue Marcel Pagnol, 13090 Aix-en-Provence, France
Cezanne Studio
Atelier des Lauves is truly a venue of memories marked with Cezanne's stamp. It displays the objects that were familiar to the painter. The studio also has an audio-visual room showing films and CD-ROMs. Cezanne worked here during the last four years of his life.
Address: 9 Avenue Paul Cézanne, 13100 Aix-en-Provence, France
Les Milles Memorial Site
It was the only camp in France used for internment, transit and deportation. Many German and Austrian people were interned here. The murals painted by interned artists remind the history of those interned people. The Memorial Carriage Association offers the guided tours. Also, one can watch an exhibition on deportation inside the train carriage.
Address: 40 Chemin de la Badesse, 13290 Aix-en-Provence, France