Musée Calvet

About the museum

The museum takes its name from Esprit Calvet, an Avignon physician who bequeathed a library, natural history collections, a cabinet of antiquities and funds for their upkeep to his native city in 1810. A decree of April 1811 authorised the mayor to accept the bequest. The collections were first housed in the Hôtel de Villeneuve-Martignan, which the City of Avignon acquired in 1833 to create a museum.

The mansion was rebuilt from 1734 to designs by the architect Jean-Baptiste Franque, with a court of honour and a formal French garden. It has been listed as a historic monument since 1963. The painters Carle and Horace Vernet, together with their friend Esprit Requien, were behind the picture gallery; in 1846 Horace Vernet donated, among other works, “La Mort du jeune Bara” by David. The Louvre has deposited an important group of works by Hubert Robert.

From the 1980s onward, the fine arts remained in the mansion, while the antiquities moved to the Musée lapidaire, in the former chapel of the Jesuit college. The Musée Calvet today brings together French, Italian, Flemish and modern paintings, sculpture, decorative arts, faience and porcelain, ethnology and archaeology, including a modern art ensemble with drawings by Cézanne and Modigliani and five paintings by Soutine.

Highlights

• “La Mort du jeune Bara” by Jacques-Louis David
• Works by Hubert Robert, deposited by the Louvre
• Modern art: Soutine, Modigliani, Dufy, Utrillo, Vlaminck
• 18th-century mansion and its grand staircase
• Shaded garden with century-old plane trees
• Free admission to the collections

Permanent exhibitions

• Peintures, sculptures et arts décoratifs – French, Italian, Flemish and modern paintings, sculpture, faience, porcelain and objets d'art in the salons of the mansion.
• Art moderne – Ensemble comprising a drawing by Cézanne, two by Modigliani, paintings by Dufy, Utrillo and Vlaminck, and five works by Soutine.

Founded

1811

Operated by

Ville d'Avignon

Visitors per year

approx. 71,436 (2019)

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

The museum is open to everyone and admission is free.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking
• 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

Paved walkway up to the court of honour on rue Joseph Vernet; ramp to the ground floor, external lift to the ground floor and ticket desk, and a lift to the upper floor. The cobbled courtyard (round pebbles) is hard to cross for those using an assisted or powered wheelchair. Second car access via rue Basile: ring the bell at the entrance to open the gate; two reserved parking spaces. Animals are not permitted.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

The museum offers family workshop visits, free of charge and by booking, for children accompanied by an adult.

Getting there & parking

The museum is in the centre of Avignon, on rue Joseph Vernet. The Musée lapidaire, which belongs to the Musée Calvet, is at 27 rue de la République.

Amenities & dining

Shaded garden with century-old plane trees.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties

The museum garden is suitable for private events.

Plan your visit