La Banque, Musée des Cultures et du Paysage

About the museum

La Banque, Musée des Cultures et du Paysage, is the city museum of Hyères. It occupies the former annex of the Banque de France, a neoclassical building of 2,188 m², designed by the Banque de France’s chief architect Alphonse Defrasse and completed in 1925 by the Hyères architect Léon David. The building was closed for nearly twenty years before becoming a museum.

A renovation project was led by Alain-Charles Perrot, chief architect of historic monuments. The collections are displayed in the former apartment of the bank’s director and in the vault room, unusual spaces that allow visitors to follow the evolution of the town and the coastline through the eyes of artists, but also through craftsmanship and architectural change.

The museum holds more than 8,000 works and objects across various fields: fine arts, natural sciences, ethnography and archaeology. It carries the Musée de France label. On the second floor, the permanent route brings together about 200 works that tell the story of Hyères and its landscape over 2,000 years, from Alexandre Cabanel to Louis Garcin and from Cartier-Bresson to Bernard Plossu.

A garden of more than 1,100 m² extends the museum. Originally a jardin à la française (formal French garden), it has taken on a Mediterranean character, with an exotic area, a seaside atmosphere and a garrigue (Mediterranean scrubland). It also hosts events and temporary art installations.

Highlights

• Permanent route of about 200 works covering 2,000 years of Hyères history
• Collections displayed in the vault room and the former director’s apartment
• Works by Alexandre Cabanel, Louis Garcin, Henri Cartier-Bresson and Bernard Plossu
• Garden of more than 1,100 m² with Oscar Domínguez’s Monument au Chat
• Neoclassical and Art Deco former annex of the Banque de France

Permanent exhibition

• Parcours permanent : l'évolution du paysage d'Hyères – On the second floor, about 200 works tell 2,000 years of Hyères’ history through the evolution of its landscape and activities.

Operated by

Ville d'Hyères

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Free on the first Sunday of every month

Free admission with proof for visitors under 18, holders of the mobility inclusion card, members of the press, ICOM members, holders of the Pass Éducation and staff of the Ministry of Culture. A supplement may apply to some temporary exhibitions depending on the event.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The step-free entrance for visitors with reduced mobility is on the left side of the building.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The museum is located in the heart of Hyères’ town center.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Ticket desk and shop with museum catalogues, books, postcards, stationery and gifts. The garden is open as an extension of the museum. Animals are not allowed in the building; backpacks are not permitted in the exhibition spaces.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit