Aix en Provence Museums

(Aix en Provence, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, France)

Aix en Provence has a long-standing reputation as a cultural centre in Provence.

As such, the city boasts a number of fascinating museums which cover a wide range of interests.

As well as archaeological displays, Aix en Provence is also home to museums of local history, including exhibits of Provençal textiles, china and natural history. The Musée de Vieil Aix is a particular favourite with visitors to this city.

Musée d'Histoire Naturelle (Natural History Museum)

Address: 6 Rue Espariat, Aix en Provence, F-13100, France, FR
Tel: +33 04 42 27 91 27
Founded in 1838, Aix's Natural History Museum is better known to the locals as the Musée d'Histoire Naturelle and contains one of the best collections of dinosaur fossils in France. Most were excavated locally, from the nearby Mont St. Victoire.
Open hours: daily - 10:00 to 12:00 and 13:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge

Atélier Cézanne

Address: 9 Avenue Paul Cézanne, Aix en Provence, F-13090, France, FR
Tel: +33 04 42 21 06 53
The impressionist painter, Paul Cézanne famously lived and worked in this cottage. His house and studio in Aix have been restored to exactly as it was when he died in 1906. None of his paintings are on display in the Atélier Cézanne. However, the furniture and other objects pertaining to his life and work which are on display are still of interest to visitors and Cézanne enthusiasts.
Open hours: daily, October to March - 14:00 to 17:00; April to June - 10:00 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 18:00; September - 10:00 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 18:00 (30-minute tours; advance booking required at Tourist Office)
Admission: charge

Musée de Vieil Aix

Address: Hôtel Estienne de Saint Jean, 17, Rue Gaston de Saporta, Aix en Provence, F-13100, France, FR
Tel: +33 04 42 21 43 55
This museum is devoted to traditional Provençal folk art and local traditions. Housed within a grand 17th-century mansion house, its collection includes many household objects, as well as furniture, pictures, wooden puppets, and costumes. Temporary exhibits at the Musée de Vieil Aix often focus on specific aspects of local history.
Open hours: Tuesday to Sunday, November to March - 10:00 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 17:00; April to October - 10:00 to 12:00 and 14:30 to 18:00
Admission: charge

Musée de la Faïence Paul Arbaud

Address: 2 Rue du 4 Septembre, Aix en Provence, F-13100, France, FR
Tel: +33 04 42 38 38 95
Named after the avid collector and scholar, Paul Arbaud, the museum is reputed to be one of the most significant collections of Provençal earthenware. The library at Aix en Provence's Musée de la Faïence Paul Arbaud is home to numerous manuscripts.
Open hours: Monday to Saturday - 14:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge