Created in 1928, the Musée Ziem offers a variety of collections. Visitors can admire paintings, but also Fauve landscapes, contemporary artworks, archeological and ethnological finds… Entirely free of charge, the museum is accessible to all.
History of the museum
Created in 1908, the museum is named after Felix Ziem. This painter, associated with the Barbizon school and Orientalism, discovered Martigues in 1840 and set up a studio there in 1860: his paintings of the Martigues canals largely contributed to the nickname of Provençal Venice.
Since 1982, the Musée Ziem has been housed in a rehabilitated former customs barracks. Dedicated to the fine arts at the time of its creation, the museum has gradually enriched its collections by opening up to other themes revolving around History and ethnography.
Works and collections
The Musée Ziem in Martigues is particularly famous for its landscapes. The works of Felix Ziem are well represented there, with landscapes of Venice, Constantinople and Martigues. The paintings of the Marseille school are in the spotlight, with an exhibition of paintings by Émile Loubon, Jean-Baptiste Olive and Paul Guigou. Visitors can also admire paintings of landscapes by André Derain, Raoul Dufy and Francis Picabia, as well as a collection of ex-voto paintings or those made by goldsmiths. Contemporary art highlights artists such as Claude Viallat, Ernest Pignon-Ernest, André-Pierre Arnal and Georges Autard.
The remains unearthed during the excavations carried out in Martigues are also presented. The museum also houses a large ethnographic collection.
Exhibitions and activities
Temporary exhibitions are regularly organized. In 2020, the exhibition Passion d’un collectionneur (Passion of a Collector) offers a different way of discovering the town of Martigues, from Jonquières to Ferrières, not forgetting the Island and its Bird Mirror, through more than 80 works.
Guided tours are organized throughout the year, as well as conferences, meetings and debates, concerts, choreographic shows, etc. Workshops are also offered to children and adults, visitors passing through or locals.
Practical information
Prepare your visit to the Musée Ziem:
- Opening days: open Wednesday to Sunday, and Tuesday to Sunday in July and August
- Schedule: from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in July and August, and from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. from September to June
- Address: Boulevard du 14 juillet, 13500 Martigues
- Website: https://www.ville-martigues.fr/loisirs/culture/musee-ziem
