The best museums to discover

with the family in Provence

Finding a cultural outing and pleasing the whole tribe? A real challenge! We share with you our selection of museums, the one that will arouse the curiosity of your little ones and animate family discussions. In the heart of a Provençal nature reserve or in an unmissable city of the South, a bit of culture awaits you!

History and nature in the Vaucluse

The Requien Natural History Museum in Avignon was named after Esprit Requien, an 18th century Avignonnais and a naturalist renowned in the scientific world. The museum’s large collection traces the wildlife of the Vaucluse from Prehistoric times. You can see many naturalized animals and a beautiful collection of fossils (giant sharks’ teeth, skull of Tyrannosaurus). Another venue opposite the Harmas of the famous naturalist Jean-Henri Fabre can be found in the Naturoptère in Sérignan du Comtat. In the cultural and educational centre dedicated to nature and the environment, short animations are shown every 30 minutes along with short capsules which allow you to find out more about nature and its inhabitants. Wander around the gardens of this scientific centre to discover the plants thriving there and the many insects who have found a home in this lush green setting.

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Your head in the stars in the Alpes de Haute Provence

In the middle of a ten-hectare natural area, the Centre d’Astronomie of Saint-Michel l’Observatoire welcomes all those who are curious about space and want to see better what’s going on in the sky. To get there, follow the signs for the Plateau du Moulin à vent, just next to the village of Saint-Michel l’Observatoire. Surrounded by holm oaks and meadows, this exceptional site plunges you into the Universe. Discover astronomy and learn to observe the star-filled sky in this magnificent place labelled a “Station de Nuit” by the Association Française d’Astronomie. New: the planetarium dome which take you on a trip to the edge of the Universe towards the infinitely big. A good way of learning about the world around us. And don’t forget to do the solar system itinerary spread over 250 metres: see the sun and the planets in augmented reality!

The Art of Gesture and childrens’ laughter in Marseille

Initiate your little tribe to art at the Préau des Accoules children’s museum in Marseille. The Mediterranean city holds the Famille Plus label for its implication in entertaining activities for parents and children. In the Panier quarter, in a very beautiful building which dates back to 1702, your little ones will get a super visit suited to their ages. The museum offers fun exhibitions for children with an original approach to the object of art. At the end of the itinerary, the children can play with the games specially designed by the museum’s teams. In the Château Borély, the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, de la Faïence et de la Mode céramique opens the doors of an incredible collection of 2,500 items, from the 18th century to today. Furniture, ceramics, glasses, tapestries, art objects, rare exotic items, … Discover them with your children as you walk through the remarkable rooms in the building which has kept its original decor. And when the weather is right, what about a picnic with the family in the grounds of the château, where the kids can have fun in the open air!

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Mankind’s past and life on Earth in the Var

In Tourves, the Musée des Gueules Rouges traces the history of bauxite mining. It helps us to imagine the life of the men who worked hard on these mining lands. Interactive terminals show visitors the techniques for processing bauxite into aluminium, its uses and its origins. With the commented visit, you’ll travel to the heart of the miners’ everyday life in a facsimile of a gallery. For those of you are keen on natural sciences, the Muséum Départemental du Var in Toulon is a reference for naturalists in the Var: geology, palaeontology, prehistory, botany and zoology… Everything you need to answer the most precise questions from budding scientists. Together keep your eyes skinned in front of the precious 18th century herbariums. Dare to look a lynx in the eye and have fun identifying garden birds.

An outing on the little train in the salt beds

Discover the salt tables for yourself on board the Petit Train du Salin d’Aigues-Mortes. In this leading flamingo reserve in Europe, you can watch them take off in their natural environment; it’s absolutely fascinating to watch. The fabulous Salt of Camargue has its origins in the pink waters… along with its taste. You’ll find out more about the role of the Salt worker who is the keeper of this unspoiled, wild and generous nature. An exhibition room shows how the salt beds are cultivated, the beds where a unique wildlife made up of 200 species of birds, of which 157 are protected species, live. To finish, climb the “camelle” for a remarkable view over the biggest salted in the Mediterranean and the town of Aigues-Mortes. Did you know? The vast stretches of the Camargue represent large stocks of food, and a very important reproduction area for the birds which stay there during spring and summer.