Musée des Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer

About the museum

The museum grew out of the Museon Camarguen, founded in 1936 and opened in 1942 in the former town hall of Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer. It brought together collections on the heritage of the Camargue and the village, assembled by defenders of local tradition with the support of the Marquis Folco de Baroncelli. In 1945 it became the Musée Baroncelli, named after the marquis, who had died two years earlier, and its collections were enriched with documents and objects of local ethnography. The collections have been labeled “Musée de France” since 2003.

The municipality wanted to highlight these collections as well as the maritime past of the coastline. A new building was constructed: the Musée des Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, which took over the collections of the former Musée Baroncelli, now closed.

The permanent display, “De la noire profondeur des eaux à la lumière des marais”, draws on underwater excavation campaigns and presents more than 3,000 years of history, from antiquity to the contemporary era. It combines underwater archaeology, Camargue traditions and the ethnographic collections linked to the Marquis de Baroncelli.

Highlights

• Underwater archaeology of the Camargue coastline
• Ethnographic collections linked to the Marquis de Baroncelli
• More than 3,000 years of history, from antiquity to today
• Tactile trail and audio guide in French
• Immersive space shaped like a ship's hold, used for children's workshops

Permanent exhibition

• De la noire profondeur des eaux à la lumière des marais – Permanent display on underwater archaeology, maritime history and the traditions of the Camargue, from antiquity to the contemporary era.

Founded

1936

Operated by

Commune des Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer

Visitors per year

approx. 1,454

Admission & discounts

Free admission: European Heritage Days, Museum Night and European Archaeology Days.

Also free with proof for residents of Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, job seekers, recipients of the RSA (minimum income), ICOM members and licensed tour guides. School groups: self-guided visits are free for nursery-school classes and €2 per pupil after that; guided tours carry a flat fee of €30 per class.

Accessibility

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

Step-free entrance and elevator; the entire exhibition area is accessible to wheelchair users. An induction loop is available at reception, and a magnifying glass and folding chair can be borrowed. The tactile trail and sound content come with French subtitles. Assistance dogs and walking canes are allowed. The museum holds the Tourisme & Handicap label.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Baby changing facilities

Family rate and children's workshops in the immersive space shaped like the hold of the boat “Le Mireio”. Many objects on the tactile trail can be touched.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop
• Coat check

Shop at reception (books, stationery, reproductions, regional products). Cloakroom for groups; restrooms; animals not permitted.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit