Arlaten Museum

The Museon Arlaten, museum of Provence

The Arles audio-guided tour takes you past the fine restored façade of the Museon Arlaten, the departmental museum of ethnography. It was created at the end of the nineteenth century by Frédéric Mistral, the famous Provençal writer and poet, deeply attached to the preservation of his region's cultural identity.

The work of a Provençal Nobel laureate

Frédéric Mistral received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1904 for his work in favour of the Provençal language and culture. It was this attachment that led him to create a museum dedicated to the customs and traditions of the region. The Museon Arlaten, set in a former mansion, is its achievement, conceived as a living conservatory of Provençal life.

What there is to see

The museum presents costumes, everyday objects, furniture and reconstructions that tell the traditional life of Provence. Recently renovated, it offers a renewed museography while respecting the spirit intended by Frédéric Mistral. It is an essential stop to understand the identity of Arles and Provence, in the heart of Rue de la République.

Practical information

The Museon Arlaten is at 29 Rue de la République, in the centre of Arles, in a former mansion. It can be visited according to its own schedule; opening times and access conditions may vary with the season. It is best to check the programme before visiting.

Who created the Museon Arlaten?

The museum was created at the end of the nineteenth century by Frédéric Mistral, Provençal writer and poet, Nobel laureate in literature in 1904, to preserve the traditions of the region.

What does the museum present?

The Museon Arlaten presents costumes, everyday objects, furniture and reconstructions that tell the traditional life and cultural identity of Provence.