A Tour of the Verdon Museums

According to the 2024 GECE Barometer¹, more than 1 in 2 French people have visited a museum or cultural site in the past 12 months. If you, too, enjoy this kind of activity, don’t miss out on the museums of the Verdon during your stay with us! From history and heritage to crafts and contemporary art, these places will be the perfect complement to your vacation. These cultural breaks are ideal between hikes or a swim in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region! Don’t wait any longer—discover 5 museums less than an hour from our campground in the Verdon.

Simon Segal Museum and Museum of the Resistance

Art lovers, this place is for you! The Simon Segal Museum immerses you in 20th-century modern and contemporary art, less than one kilometer from our campground. The permanent exhibition features more than 280 paintings from Bruno Bassano’s collection. There, you’ll admire works from the Paris, Toulon, and Bourges schools, by artists such as Segal, Van Dongen, and Brigand.

But that’s not all! At the back of the Verdon Museum, a door leads to the Museum of the Resistance. There, you’ll learn about a poignant chapter in French history and the struggle in Haute-Provence through artifacts, photos, and authentic documents.

Two tours for the price of one—both can be enjoyed at a leisurely pace in 1 hour and 30 minutes!

Address: Avenue Albert 1er, 83630 Aups.

Woodturners‘ Museum

Are you familiar with woodturning? According to Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Tourisme², this craft has made Aiguines famous since the 16th century. During your vacation near the Gorges du Verdon, you can discover this craft at a location 21.6 km from our campground. The Woodturners’ Museum showcases this unique craftsmanship found in Provence. It brilliantly juxtaposes antique pieces—such as studded pétanque balls—with contemporary creations. Thanks to the quality of its collections, this museum has been awarded the “Musée de France” designation.

Wondering what this Verdon museum has to offer? Permanent and temporary exhibits regularly bring the space to life, and creative workshops for children ages 6 to 12 are held there. An informative and fun tour lasting about 45 minutes that will undoubtedly enrich your stay!

Address: 1 Place de la Résistance, 83630 Aiguines.

Museum Tour: What Awaits You at the Museum

A visit to the Gorges du Verdon Museum of Prehistory is designed to be a true chronological journey. As soon as you walk in, you are transported through the ages.

The museum’s exhibition, which is clear and educational, features striking life-size reconstructions: prehistoric camps, hunting scenes, and a faithful representation of the stratigraphy of the Baume Bonne Cave.

You can admire an impressive collection of authentic artifacts discovered during the excavations: flint tools, pottery, jewelry, and the bones of hunted animals. Models, films, and interactive displays help visitors better understand the different periods.

The display cases showcase, in detail, artifacts that illustrate the evolution of humankind, its technologies, and its art. Be sure to take a photo of the dioramas to capture a memory of this journey into the past. The museum also explores the evolution of the Verdon landscape and its impact on prehistoric societies.

Museum of Prehistory of the Verdon Gorges

Get ready for a journey through time! In Quinson, a gray metal door opens onto a building designed by architect Norman Foster. Welcome to one of Europe’s largest prehistory museums! Here, the history of humankind in Provence is told over the course of a million years, from the Paleolithic to the Bronze Age. This museum in the Verdon region showcases the region’s archaeological treasures. The many activities for children—and even for adults—make it a must-see destination.

Here are some of the activities on offer:

Workshops on how to start a fire or chip flint.
Introduction to Archery.
Explore the real Baume Bonne Cave with a museum guide.

For a self-guided tour of the Gorges du Verdon Prehistory Museum, allow at least 2 hours.

Address: Route de Montmeyan (D11), 04500 Quinson.

Museum of Earthenware

Moustiers-Sainte-Marie is famous not only for its hanging star, but also for its earthenware! The Earthenware Museum pays tribute to it! Did you know that, according to the town’s Tourist Office³, during the reign of Louis XIV, its finesse and delicacy were renowned throughout the kingdom? In this museum in the Verdon region, which holds the ‘Qualité Tourisme’ label, you’ll discover the history of this craft, its techniques and its distinctive decorative motifs, such as the ‘Grotesques’.

According to visitor reviews, this place is popular because of:

The warm welcome and the clarity of the explanations.
A collection of more than 300 exceptional pieces.
Free admission for children under 16.

You can tour the exhibits on this site in less than an hour.

Address: Rue du Seigneur de la Clue, 04360 Moustiers-Sainte-Marie.

Would you like to enhance your stay with some cultural excursions? Book your stay at the Oasis du Verdon today and set out to explore these museums!

Sources

¹ GECE. (2024). 2024 Barometer of Museum and Heritage Site Visitors: https://www.gece.fr/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Barometre-2024-des-publics-des-musees-et-des-lieux-patrimoniaux-Institut-Gece.pdf

² Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Tourism. (n.d.). Woodturners’ Museum – Aiguines. Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Tourism: https://provence-alpes-cotedazur.com/que-faire/culture-et-patrimoine/lieux/musee-des-tourneurs-sur-bois-aiguines-fr-2871452/

³ Municipality of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie. (n.d.). Earthenware Museum: https://www.moustiers.fr/incontournable-moustiers/faience/musee-faience/