Top 8 most beautiful reinvented vintage venues in Provence

The Bibliothèque Les Méjanes (Library) in Aix-en-Provence

Since 1989, the Bibliothèque des Méjanes, installed in the former match factory in Aix-en-Provence, has aroused the curiosity of those who love old buildings. It’s just next to the railway track, and, for safety reasons, towards the edge of the town. In olden times, a railway line used to go straight into the factory and it needed wood and coal to operate. Because, from 1895 to 1972, do you know what they produced there? Matches! The library was later integrated into the Grandes Allumettes building. Nowadays, you have access to 9,000 m² dedicated to collections for children and adults (books, press, CDs, DVDs, audiobooks, music scores and heritage documents), and you can relax in a good atmosphere. The library even has its own reading room as well as covered streets, a square courtyard, an auditorium… areas for shows, encounters and even conferences.

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La Banque, Musée des Cultures et du Paysage (Musuem of Cultures and Landscapes) in Hyères

Right in the middle of downtown Hyères, the Banque de France was completely restored to become the Musée des Cultures et du Paysage. Since 2021, visitors have been able to see the superb collections of Hyères which are exhibited there. The building reproduces the atmosphere and esthetics which were characteristic of the beginning of the 20th century, and offers a welcome old-school interlude! The former Banque de France has become a hotspot of the cultural life of Hyères for visitors to discover and share the art of the landscape with delight. You can see the former manager’s office which has been completely transformed to house the museum’s collections. And lastly, in the basement, without a doubt the most surprising room; the strongroom bears witness to the building’s past.

Le Château de la Buzine – Cité du Cinéma in Marseille

Between the hills and valleys of l’Huveaune, enter the Cité du Cinéma in Marseille’s 11th arrondissement. And more precisely, the Château de la Buzine, which owes its name to Henry de Buzens, the noble owner of the domain in the 17th century. In the middle of farming land, this magnificent bastide which became a bourgeois mansion was the theatre of some lovely anecdotes with the most famous dating back to 1941, the year Marcel Pagnol purchased it and created the Cité du Cinéma, a real “Provencal Hollywood” where he could shoot his films and ensure pre- and post-production. Today, the “Château de ma Mère” as the filmmaker liked to call it, has become a venue open to all genres and styles of artistic creation. All year round, the varied programme of events, exhibitions, shows, concerts, encounters, workshops and entertainment beckons you inside. Surrounded by seven hills, the Domaine’s grounds are great for a wander, especially in summer with free open-air shows.

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Une publication partagée par La Ferme HIbride (@la_ferme_hibride)

La Ferme HIbride in the heart of the Luberon

Patrick and Philippe share their little haven of peace, “la Ferme HIbride”, with all the lovers of Provencal nature at its purest. In Villelaure, this period bastide where old stones and contemporary furniture go well together radiate happiness. The bastide has been retrofitted with the collaboration of the designer Matali Crasset to create a sleek, colourful and sparkling interior. The former sheepfold and the Tour de Ferrier which looks down over the building are now guestrooms, houses and private studio flats. Designed with ecological materials produced locally, you’ll feel good straight away there. In summer, the former pond which is now a swimming pool offers a refreshing break in the heart of the garrigue. From the point of view of food, the products are from the surrounding farming land. Olive trees, vines and the vegetable garden all promise good short-circuit meals.

The Fondation LUMA in Arles

LUMA Arles is first and foremost an authentic architectural challenge in the middle of the town. This artistic and cultural complex, developed by Maja Hoffmann’s Fondation LUMA, has been standing tall in the Parc des Ateliers in Arles since 2013. Originally, the area was 11 hectares of former SNCF railway land. Today, on the site, the Tower designed by Frank Gehry and seven former factories from the 19th-century industrial heritage rub shoulders harmoniously. This creative campus is a temple for artists and offers new prospects for creation, collaboration and the presentation of their work to the general public. In addition to this, every year, LUMA Arles hosts exhibitions of major artists, works by leading names in contemporary creation, specific commissions and on-site projects. A new breath of inspiration that you just have to share!

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The Fondation Carzou in Manosque

Head for the Alpes de Haute Provence, and La Fondation Carzou in Manosque. As you enter this Neoclassical former chapel and the former convent retrofitted as exhibition rooms, you’ll be taken on a real trip back in time. Here, art is not only integrated into a monastic decor but the cultural centre dedicates its areas to the art of our times and the painter Jean Carzou, an artist who was very popular in the 50s and 60s. For the record, in the late 80s, the Mairie de Manosque asked Carzou to paint a monumental work inside the chapel. He used the inspiration of his 1957 exhibition entitled “L’Apocalypse” to decorate the place. Around fifty paintings and 3 stained-glass windows adorn the chapel.

An Escape Game in the Forteresse de Beaucaire

Solve riddles and intrigues in an improbable venue in Beaucaire: the fortress in Place Raimond VII. Welcome to the Escape Game “Raimond et la quête du graal”! A unique treasure hunt takes place on the ramparts of the medieval castle. It’s such fun to discover all the hidden nooks and crannies of the Forteresse de Beaucaire. It would seem that the legendary Grail is hidden there. You’ll feel tiny when you see this remarkable citadel which looks down over the River Rhône from the height of its polygonal tower. In the remains of the medieval castle of the Comtes de Toulouse, in the Romanesque chapel, on the walkway or in the pretty gardens, there are answers are all around you. Keep your eyes peeled and stay alert!

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The Lambert Collection in Avignon

Experience cultural and artistic immersion in the two magnificent 18th-century private mansions in the heart of Avignon. Inside you’ll find the Fondation d’Yvon Lambert which houses the Collection Lambert. Created on the initiative of the art dealer and collector, Yvon Lambert, the museum houses major works of the second half of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century. The Hôtel de Caumont hosts permanent collections, and the Hôtel de Montfaucon temporary exhibitions which are renewed twice a year. Here, the focus is on great artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, Christian Boltanski and Miquel Barcelo.