Musée des arts et traditions populaires de Moyenne Provence

About the museum

The Musée des Arts et Traditions populaires de Moyenne Provence occupies the buildings of the former Notre-Dame-du-Bon-Pasteur congregation, in the old centre of Draguignan. The complex, made up of a mansion and houses from the 17th and 18th centuries, served in the 19th century as a novitiate, then as a boarding school and orphanage. The town bought the site in 1973, and the nuns left in 1979.

The fitting-out work took place from 1980 to 1983, and the museum opened in 1985 on the initiative of an association dedicated to preserving the arts and folk traditions of Moyenne Provence. The ethnographic collections became community property in 2007 and grow mainly through donations from local residents. They illustrate daily life in the 19th and 20th centuries: agriculture, olive growing, viticulture, the cork industry, crafts, religious objects, cooking, costumes and festive traditions.

The route spans three levels and includes an ethnological garden where farm tools are displayed. The wall paintings of the Brothers’ chapel, rediscovered in 1979, are also part of the site. In 2009 the Dracénie agglomeration community acquired the neighbouring mill, the Moulin Buisson, to house a permanent exhibition on olive oil. The museum holds the “Musée de France” label and belongs to the Dracénie museum network.

Highlights

• Provençal ethnography collections: agriculture, viticulture, cork
• Olive mill and ethnological garden
• Wall paintings of the Brothers’ chapel
• Provençal kitchen with earthenware from Moustiers, Varages and Salernes
• Costumes, furniture and festive traditions

Permanent exhibition

• Parcours permanent d’ethnographie provençale – Rooms devoted to cereal growing, viticulture, olive oil, cork, cooking and religious objects, complemented by an ethnological garden.

Founded

1985

Operated by

Dracénie Provence Verdon agglomération

Visitors per year

approx. 11,171 (2012)

Admission & discounts

Free admission: First Saturday of each month and during the summer exhibition “Été contemporain”.

Admission is also free for job seekers and recipients of the RSA (French minimum income benefit).

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• 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

Accessible parking nearby: 7 spaces at the Bontemps car park and 6 in the museum’s underground car park. The reception staff are trained to welcome visitors with disabilities.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide

On request, a children’s quiz is handed out at reception for family visits. A youth programme is aimed at toddlers, school groups and youth services.

Getting there & parking

The museum is in the old town, near the law courts.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

The museum shop sells books on heritage, regional products such as honey and olive oil, and works by local craftspeople.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit