Choose from 69 Fun Things to Do in Provence
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Natural History Museum of Marseille (Museum d'Histoire Naturelle)
Founded in 1819 by Jean-Baptiste Marquis de Montgrand, the Natural History Museum of Marseille holds over 160,000 fossils and zoological specimens as well as 210,000 botanical and mineral specimens. The museum is located in the Palais Longchamp in Marseilles, alongside the Fine Arts Museum.
There are four exhibition areas on the site: la salle Safari (World Fauna), la salle de Provence (Regional Fauna and Flora), la salle d'osteologie (Comparative Anatomy) and la salle de prehistoire, sur l'evolution (Prehistory and Evolution). There are also occasional conferences and temporary exhibitions.
Practical Info
The museum is located Palais Longchamp on Rue Esperandieu in Marseilles. It can be reached by tram line 2 and by metro 1 (Station Longchamp). It is not advised to get there by car as there is little parking in the area. The museum is open Tuesday-Sunday from 10am to 6pm. Admission to the permanent exhibition and temporary exhibition is €8 / €5 (full fare / reduced fare) and €5 €3 for the permanent exhibition. Admission is free to all on the first Sunday of the month.
Address: Palais Longchamp, Rue Esperandieu, Marseille, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur 13004, France
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday from 10am "“ 6pm; Open Easter Monday and Pentecost Monday; Closed January 1st, May 1st, November 1st, December 25 and 26.
Admission: Permanent exhibition AND temporary exhibition: €8; Permanent exhibition: €5
From $ 30
Musee Cantini
Located in Marseilles, the Musee Cantini specializes in modern art and focuses specifically on paintings from 1900-1950. It has been open since 1936 in a building built in 1694 for the Compagnie du Cap Nègre. It belonged to a string of notorious men before Jules Cantini bequeathed it down to the city of Marseilles in 1916, requesting that it become a museum of decorative arts.
Today, the museum holds one of France's largest public collections of art created during the first half of the 20th century. A highly diverse selection of artists is represented, including works by those who practice pointillism, fauvism, and cubism. The museum also has an important selection of drawings.
Practical Info
Musee Cantini is located on rue Grignan. It is accessible by metro line 1 (Station Estrangin / Prefecture) or by car "“ there There is an indoor parking lot two streets south on Boulevard Paul Peytral. Access to the permanent collection is €5 (full fare) or €3 (reduced fare). Access is free for children at all times, and for everyone on the first Sunday of the month. Guided tours are available Saturdays at 2pm. That same afternoon, a speaker is available to answer guests' questions at 5pm, 5:15pm and 5:30pm. Wednesdays and Saturdays at 3:30pm, a guided tour and activity for families is available (reservation recommended). Le Petit Salon, a space is also open for children accompanied by adults Tuesday to Sunday from 10am until noon.
Address: 19 rue Grignan, Marseille, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur 13006, France
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 10am until 6pm; Open Easter Monday and Pentecost Monday; Closed January 1st, May 1st, November 1st, December 25 and 26.
Admission: Permanent collection: €5; Reduced fare: €3; Children free
From $ 30
Museum of African, Oceanic and American-Indian Art
With its ancient roots, Marseille is the perfect city to host the Museum of African, Oceanic and American-Indian Art (Musee d'Arts Africains, Oceaniens et Amerindiens). And the Vieille Charite, with its fascinating architecture, is the perfect place to house it.
The Vieille Charite may not look like much from the outside, as it was originally a poorhouse dating back to the late 17th century. But inside, visitors are treated to a massive courtyard with symmetrical rows of beautiful arches, where light plays over the pinkish stone from nearby quarries. At the center of the courtyard is a jewel box of a chapel; all in all, it would be a worthy sightseeing destination even if it didn't house a museum.
Or should it be museums, plural? In addition to the permanent exhibitions of the Museum of African, Oceanic and American-Indian Art, which features striking ethnographic pieces and ancient artifacts, there are several temporary exhibits in other gallery spaces, as well as the Museum of Mediterranean Archaeology (Musee d'Archeologie Mediterraneenne).
The museum and its exhibits provide a wonderful, off-the-beaten path activity that's perfect for the whole family. Note that the site is widely known as the greater Vieille Charite, rather than the specific museum names.
Practical Info
The Museum of African, Oceanic and American-Indian Art (Musee d'Arts Africains, Oceaniens et Amerindiens) is located at the Vieille Charite, 2 rue de la Charite, in the 2nd arrondissement. The museum is closed on Mondays, Christmas Day and on the first of January, May and November. Otherwise, the museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets cost 5 euro for adults and are free for kids under 18. On Sunday mornings, tickets are free until 1 p.m.
Address: Rue de la Charite, Marseille 13002, France
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 10am-6pm
Admission: Adults €5, Children under 18 FREE
From $ 30
Place aux Huiles
Marseille is known as a vibrant city, and it's mostly with good reason. Even on the winding back streets of the Old Town, there are raucous conversations taking place among locals, and it seems like there's always something going on at every hour. Between the active port and the souk-like markets, it can all get a bit overwhelming, and when that's the case, visitors can head to the Place aux Huiles for a wonderful respite from the daily hub-bub.
Translated, the Place aux Huiles is Oil Square, which refers to the old canal that led from the Old Port to a shipping point for barrels of olive oil. In the early 20th century it was filled in, and later on the Place aux Huiles was built and named in honor of its past.
Today the L-shaped square, designed to resemble an Italian piazza, is just off the Quay Rive Neuve on the Old Port and is lined with some of the best restaurants and bars in town. But because it is off the main drag and only open to pedestrians, the area is relaxing, quiet and the perfect place to while away a lazy afternoon after sightseeing in the morning.
Practical Info
Place aux Huiles sits near the Old Port of Marseille.
Address: Place aux Huiles, Marseille, France
From $ 30
Marseille Museum of Fine Arts (Musee des Beaux Arts)
Marseille's Museum of Fine Arts is one of the city's main museums, and was opened in 1801 by the Consulate along with five other museums in the other large cities of France. Originally housed in the Couvent des Bernardines, it has been transferred to a wing of the lavish Palais Longchamp in 1869, a now historical monument built by architect Henry Esperandieu in 1862.
The Museum of Fine Arts' collection includes over 8,000 paintings, sculptures, and drawings dating back from the 16th to the 19th centuries. Works are from diverse European schools, including the French (which are majorly represented), Italian, Spanish and Northern (Flanders and Holland). A large collection of sculptures by Pierre Paul Puget (1620"“1694) and Auguste Rodin's masterpiece "La Meditation", a gift from the artist himself, are among the best examples of the French school on display.
Practical Info
The museum is located on rue Edouard Stephan nearby Gare Saint-Charles. It can be reached by tram line 2 or metro line 1 at stop Longchamp. It is not recommended to get there by car as there is little parking in the area. Entrance to the museum's permanent exhibition costs €5 (full fare) or €3 (reduced fare). Temporary exhibits have different fees: €10 (full fare) or €8 (reduced fare) for Category 1 exhibits, €8 (full fare), €5 (reduced fare) for Category 2 exhibits and €5 (full fare) or €3 (reduced fare) for Category 3 exhibits. These also include access to the permanent exhibition. Guided tours are also available for €4 per adult, and €2 per child (5 to 13). Family activities and special rates are also available. Entry to the museum is free on the first Sunday of the month. The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am until 6pm, but it is closed January 1st, May 1st, November 1st, December 25 and 26.
Address: Palais Longchamp, 7 rue Edouard Stephan, Marseille, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur 13004, France
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 10am until 6pm; Open Easter Monday and Pentecost Monday; Closed January 1st, May 1st, November 1st, December 25 and 26.
Admission: Permanent collection: €5
From $ 30
Montagne Sainte Victoire
Immortalized in a number of famous paintings by local resident Cezanne, the towering peak of Montagne Sainte Victoire (Sainte-Victoire Mountain) is one of the most iconic symbols of Provence. Looming 1,011 meters on the horizon of Aix-en-Provence, Montagne Sainte Victoire is a picturesque sight, framed by the idyllic vineyards of Provence and changing its hues with the sunset.
A hugely popular spot for hikers, Sainte Victoire offers a striking backdrop for walking and climbing expeditions, with the bright red clay of its foothills giving way to a stark white limestone ridge. A number of trails run around the mountain side and from its peak, the views are the best in the Aix region "“ a breathtaking panorama that takes in the rolling plains, lush river valleys and hilltop villages that inspired so much of Cezanne's work. Whether you're exploring on foot or by car, there are a number of points of interest dotted around the mountain, including the hillside village of Ventabren, a 17th century priory and the dam of Lac du Bimont. The mountain is also a key attraction on the famous Route de Cezanne tourist trail, which passes many of the artist's most beloved natural subjects including Le Tholonet, Beaurecueil, St Antonin and Gardanne.
A hugely popular spot for hikers, Sainte Victoire offers a striking backdrop for walking and climbing expeditions, with the bright red clay of its foothills giving way to a stark white limestone ridge. A number of trails run around the mountain side and from its peak, the views are the best in the Aix region "“ a breathtaking panorama that takes in the rolling plains, lush river valleys and hilltop villages that inspired so much of Cezanne's work. Whether you're exploring on foot or by car, there are a number of points of interest dotted around the mountain, including the hillside village of Ventabren, a 17th century priory and the dam of Lac du Bimont. The mountain is also a key attraction on the famous Route de Cezanne tourist trail, which passes many of the artist's most beloved natural subjects including Le Tholonet, Beaurecueil, St Antonin and Gardanne.
Address: Montagne Sainte-Victoire, Vauvenargues, France
From $ 64
Marseille History Museum (Musee d'Histoire)
Following extensive renovations back in 2013, the Marseille History Museum is now one of the largest history museums in Europe and it's a fitting homage to France's oldest city, showcasing a fascinating array of archaeological finds. Exploring the interactive exhibitions and multi-media displays, visitors can follow the evolution of Marseille from its founding by the Greeks back in 600BC, to the early Christian settlers, through to medieval times and the redevelopment of the city under Louis XIV.
Notable highlights include an impressively preserved 3rd-century Roman cargo boat, a remarkable collection of 13th century pottery and a series of architectural works by Pierre Puget. Also worth a visit is the open-air Jardin des Vestiges, which displays excavated remains, including a paved Roman Toad, necropolis and antique Greek walls.
Practical Info
The Marseille History Museum is located in central Marseille, close to the Vieux-Port and is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 6pm. Admission is €5.
Address: Centre Bourse, 2 Rue Henri Barbusse, Marseille 13001, France
Hours: Tues-Sun 10am-6pm
Admission: €5
From $ 30
Roman Docks Museum (Musee des Docks Romains)
Located in Marseille's 2nd Arrondissement, between the City Hall and the Cathedral, and built on the ruins of an ancient Roman warehouse discovered in 1947, the Roman Docks Museum features, as its name states, exhibits based on the 20 Roman shipwrecks that have been found nearby.
The museum opened in 1963, and was renovated in 1987. It is one of the only still-used today commercial warehouses from the Roman era in all of France, and is considered a Historic Monument. Fernand Benoit, a world-renowned archaeologist and historian, helped preserve some of the site's relics including 30 large jars dating back from the Roman Empire, and walls and wells from medieval homes.
Practical Info
Admission is €3 / €2 (Full fare / reduced fare) and the museum can easily be reached by public transportation, either by bus (line 83, Quai du Port stop or line 55, Caisserie Beauregard stop). It can also be reached by car, via the Rue de l'Évêche exit from A55 / Boulevard des Dames.
Address: 10 Place Vivaux, Marseille, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur 13002, France
Hours: Tuesday "“ Sunday: 10am "“ 6pm; Closed on January 1, May 1, November 1 and December 1
Admission: Full fare: €3; Reduced fare: €2
From $ 30
Museum of Mediterranean Archaeology
The Vieille Charite in the heart of Old Town Marseille houses not one, but two museums "“ the Museum of African, Oceanic and American-Indian Art (Musee d'Arts Africains, Oceaniens et Amerindiens) and the Museum of Mediterranean Archaeology (Musee d'Archeologie Mediterraneenne). Formerly a poorhouse and then an orphanage throughout its four-century history, the structure's restoration in the mid-20th century was championed by architect Le Corbusier. The site has since served as a fun destination for fans of art and history, as well as those who simply want something a bit off the beaten path.
Unlike its sister museum, the Museum of Mediterranean Archaeology focuses on the history of the immediate area and features items found in the region and specifically in and around Marseille. With that, the museum not only tells the history of Marseille, but of Mediterranean Europe in general, and can be an enlightening take for visitors from around the world.
Moving from the Museum of Mediterranean Archaeology to the Museum of African, Oceanic and American-Indian Art is an easy transition, as both complement one another. There are temporary exhibits as well, and the most recent featured works by Picasso. For cruise day trippers, the Vieille Charite is an easy stroll from the cruise port.
Practical Info
The Museum of Mediterranean Archaeology (Musee d'Archeologie Mediterraneenne) is located at the Vieille Charite, 2 rue de la Charite, in the 2nd arrondissement. The museum is closed on Mondays, Christmas Day and on the first of January, May and November. Otherwise, the museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets cost 5 euro for adults and are free for kids under 18. On Sunday mornings, the permanent collections are accessible for free until 1 p.m. Take the Metro line 2 to Station Joliette or the tram line 2 to Arrêt Republique Dames.
Address: 2 Rue de la Charite, Marseille 13001, France
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 10am-6pm
Admission: Adults €5, Children under 18 FREE
From $ 30