Musée de la Faïence de Moustiers-Sainte-Marie
Museum housed in the former town mansion (hôtel particulier) of the Seigneur de la Clue, with nine rooms covering three centuries of Moustiers faience.
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About the museum
The Musée de la Faïence was founded by Marcel Provence and the Académie de Moustiers and opened on 15 September 1929. In 1927, no faience workshop was still active in Moustiers: the war of 1870 and industrial competition had ruined the craft. Marcel Provence, a man of letters close to the Félibrige movement, relit the kilns in 1928 and founded the Académie de Moustiers, which still exists today and studies Provençal folklore, particularly faience.
Since its creation, the museum has been housed in the former town mansion of the Seigneur de la Clue. Renovated, it has spread since 2014 over nearly 300 m² across nine rooms, which follow the evolution of the shapes, decorations and colours of Moustiers faience art from its origins. The last room is reserved for temporary exhibitions.
According to tradition, the secret of tin-glazed faience was entrusted to Pierre Clérissy in 1668, and his blue monochrome decorations (camaïeu bleu) won over the nobility. The faience makers Olérys and Laugier later introduced many polychrome decorations. A video shows the stages of manufacture. The museum has received the “Qualité Tourisme” mark.
Highlights
- Nine rooms on the evolution of Moustiers faience
- Collection of several hundred old pieces
- Blue camaïeu decorations by Pierre Clérissy and polychrome decorations
- Video on the stages of manufacture
- Family treasure hunt: the investigation of the king's table service
Permanent exhibition
- Collection de faïences de Moustiers – Nine rooms on the evolution of the shapes, decorations and colours of Moustiers faience, with a video on its manufacture.
- Founded
- 1929
- Visitors per year
- approx. 15,756
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €5 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €3Students, people over 65, job seekers, people with disabilities, holders of the departmental museum pass (pass départemental des musées), groups of more than 15 people |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 15 · Free for children under 16 (accompanied when booking online). |
| Seniors | €3Over 65. |
| Visitors with disabilities | €3Reduced rate for people with disabilities. |
| Students & apprentices | €3 |
| Groups (15+ people) | €3 per personReduced rate from more than 15 people; groups by appointment only. |
| Guided tour (per person) | €7Reservation mandatory |
| Treasure hunt, solo | €7 |
| Treasure hunt, duo | €12 |
| Treasure hunt, family (a couple and their children) | €16 |
| School groups, self-guided visit (per pupil) | €3 |
| School groups, guided tour (per pupil) | €5Accompanying adults free |
Online tickets cannot be changed or refunded. Payment by bank card, cheque or cash.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- 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 museum is stated to be fully accessible to visitors with reduced mobility.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Time needed | approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 15 |
- Family tours & workshops
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
Treasure hunt of about 45 minutes to 1 hour: children and their parents solve puzzles to find the thief of the king's table service. Free admission for children under 16.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
- Museum shop
Shop with gift ideas, books and postcards, and an online shop.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | A self-guided visit takes about 30 minutes to 1 hour. Guided tour lasting 1 hour from April to October, every day except Tuesday and Sunday, at 09:30, reservation mandatory (musee@moustiers.eu). Groups of 15 or more by appointment only, with about 20 people per group. |
