Musée Réattu
Fine arts museum of Arles housed in the former grand priory of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, known for its drawings by Picasso and its photography collection.
No sound? Check your device’s silent switch.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The museum occupies the former priory of the Hospitallers of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem for the langue of Provence, on the banks of the Rhône, rue du Grand-Prieuré. The Arles painter Jacques Réattu, winner of the Prix de Rome in 1791, had acquired the building to work there and host artists. The project did not come to fruition, but the house became municipal property and the museum opened in 1868. The building has been listed as a historic monument since 1958.
The fine arts collections bring together a large part of the work of the painter Antoine Raspal, paintings and studies by Jacques Réattu, and artists such as Simon Vouet or Baya. The museum also holds fifty-seven drawings and a painting by Picasso, as well as a letter from Vincent van Gogh written in Arles to Paul Gauguin in January 1889.
From 1965, with Jean-Maurice Rouquette and Lucien Clergue, the museum opened to photography, an early choice in France, and brought together works by Clergue, Dieuzaide, Edward Weston and Ansel Adams. In 2007 it established the first sound art collection in a fine arts museum in France. It also collects design pieces and invites contemporary creators, such as Christian Lacroix in 2008, to engage in dialogue with the place.
Highlights
- Drawings and a painting by Pablo Picasso
- Photography collection, with Lucien Clergue
- Paintings by Antoine Raspal and Jacques Réattu
- Letter from Vincent van Gogh to Paul Gauguin written in Arles in 1889
- Sound art collection and contemporary design pieces
- Former priory of the Hospitallers, facing the Rhône
Permanent exhibitions
- Collections permanentes : peinture et dessin – Works by Antoine Raspal and Jacques Réattu, old and modern paintings, as well as fifty-seven drawings and a painting by Pablo Picasso.
- Collection de photographie – Collection built since 1965, with works by Lucien Clergue, Jean Dieuzaide, Edward Weston and Ansel Adams.
- Art sonore et design – Sound art collection created in 2007 with the association Phonurgia Nova, and design pieces by the designer Frédéric Rhodes.
- Founded
- 1868
- Operated by
- Ville d'Arles
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €8 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €6Teachers, groups of 10 or more people and job seekers, on proof |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Free admission for under-18s. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · Free admission for people with disabilities and their companion. |
| Students & apprentices | freeFree admission for individual students, French and foreign, up to age 25; €2 per pupil for school groups and for non-Arles students in a school setting. |
| Groups (10+ people) | €6 per personGroups of 10 to 30 people; reservation required at least 15 days in advance. Self-guided visit: €6 per person, one free entry for every 25 paying. Guided tour: €80 in addition to the reduced admission ticket. No groups on the first Sunday of the month. |
| Combined ticket for the Musée Réattu and the Fondation Vincent van Gogh | €12 |
Free admission: Free admission on the first Sunday of every month.
Free admission on proof for residents of Arles (proof of address), recipients of the RSA, members of the Friends of the Musée Réattu, journalists, museum curators, ICOM members, and one accompanying person per ten people. Tickets online via the Arles tourist office. The Pass Liberté and Pass Avantage for the Arles monuments are on sale.
Accessibility
- Partially 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 Cour de Saliers and the Musée Parallèle on the ground floor are wheelchair-accessible. The rest of the museum spans three levels with many staircases, which can make the visit difficult for visitors with reduced mobility.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 17 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
Visits for toddlers (18 months to 3 years, accompanied by a parent) titled “Le musée à petits pas”.
Getting there & parking
By car
A public car park is located on Place Lamartine, near the museum.
The museum is in the centre of Arles, on the quays of the Rhône.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Guided tours for groups by reservation at 04 90 49 37 58 or by email. |
