Salon de Provence - Museums in Salon-de-Provence

Museums in Salon-de-Provence

Château de l'Empéri Castle and Museum | - Théodore Jourdan Gallery |- Home of Nostradamus | -
Grévin Museum of Provence |- Savon de Marseille Soap Museum |-

Château de l'Empéri Castle and Museum

In 1967 the Army Museum acquired the former Raoul and Jean Brunon collections, which were then housed in Château de l'Empéri.

Since then it has become a unique place in which the public is invited to take part in a journey through the history of France, from Louis XIV to the Great War.

From Fontenoy's soldiers to those of Verdun, all aspects of it are illustrated by unique objects, such as Napoleon's bed from Saint Helena.

Those visiting the Empéri are sure to succumb to the charm of this former residence of the Archbishops of Arles, before the elegant Renaissance Gallery, and the massive medieval defensive architecture.

It is also an opportunity to discover Salon's heritage and view the work of contemporary artists in the regular exhibitions held at the castle.

Théodore Jourdan Gallery

"Théodore Jourdan" permanent exhibition
at Château de l'Empéri
Collections of the Salon and La Crau Museums

A space is devoted to the work of the painter Théodore Jourdain, a group of 19 large-sized canvases as well as about 60 drawings.
These paintings portray our ethnographic heritage, because they are completely dominated by the image of an animal, the Crau sheep, as well as shepherds and goatherds.

They will take you on a journey through these places that symbolise Provence.

The Théodore Jourdan exhibition is free of charge!

Château de l'Empéri Castle and Museum
Montée du Puech à Salon-de-Provence
04 90 44 72 80
accueil.museemperi@salon-de-provence.org

Open daily (except Tuesday and some bank holidays) from 10.00 to 12.00 and from 14.00 to 18.00.

Please note: due to the length of the visit (1½ hours), the ticket office closes at 11.15 and 17.15. Guided tours for groups by appointment (French and English).

PRICES:

€4.50 full price

€3.00 reduced price for:
1) Holders of a "large family" card, 2) Seniors over 60, 3) Disabled persons and one person accompanying them, 4) Persons accompanying a "Yes" youth card holder, 5) Teachers not resident in Salon-de-Provence, 6) Groups of 10 or more, 7) Other approved pass holders (Bouches-du-Rhône Tourist Board holiday pass, Guide Routard, and Yes card)

Free for:
1) Under 25's, 2) Job seekers and people on minimum social benefit, 3) Teachers of primary and secondary schools on professional visits, 4) Curators of public collections, 5) Journalists on professional visits, 6) Members of the Ministry of Defence - Empéri Museum only, 7) Holiday Advantage Pass holders, 8) Drivers of school or travel agency coaches

Package = Choice of Salon Museums: 2 out of 3 Museums
€7 Normal price
€5 Reduced price for the 2 museums for certain visitor categories (contact us for details).
Free for the 2 museums for certain visitor categories (contact us for details).

The Théodore Jourdan exhibition is free!

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"Home of Nostradamus" Museum

Dedicated to this enigmatic person, Michel de Nostredame, known as Nostradamus (1503-1566), who examined the past, the present … and the future up to 3797.

The Museum is in the house in which he lived from 1547 until his death and in which he wrote his famous "Prophecies".

Discover this many-faceted man who devoted himself to Medicine, Pharmacy, Astrology and Humanism, and rubbed shoulders with great men and women: Rabelais, Catherine de Médici, Charles IX, Côme Ruggieri, Marguerite de Navarre, etc.

Discover the life of this famous man, as well as his scientific and philosophical work, through an audio guide lasting 40 minutes (10 scenes). The Museum also offers temporary exhibitions, a bookshop and documentary archives.

“Home of Nostradamus" Museum
Rue Nostradamus à Salon-de-Provence
04 90 56 64 31 / 04 90 56 33 45
m.nostradamus@salon-de-provence.org

Temporary exhibitions. Audio guides in 5 languages. Guided tours.
Catalogue of collections on the town's website at www.salon-de-provence.fr

Open Monday to Friday from 09.00 to 12.00 and from 14.00 to 18.00 (please contact us for bank holidays).
Saturday and Sunday from 14.00 to 18.00.

PRICES:

€4.50 full price

€3.00 reduced price for: 1) Young people up to age 25, 2) Holders of a “large family” card, 3) Seniors over 60, 4) Disabled persons and one person accompanying them, 5) Persons accompanying a "Yes" youth card holder, 6) Teachers not resident in Salon-de-Provence, 7) Groups of 10 or more, 8) Other approved pass holders (Bouches-du-Rhône Tourist Board holiday pass, Guide du Routard, and Yes card)

Free for:
1) Under 25's, 2) Job seekers and people on minimum social benefit, 3) Teachers of primary and secondary schools on professional visits, 4) Curators of public collections, 5) Journalists on professional visits, 6) Members of the Ministry of Defence - Empéri Museum only, 7) Holiday Advantage Pass holders, 8) Drivers of school or travel agency coaches.

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Grévin Museum of Provence

Established in the old town centre, the Grévin Museum of Provence has dedicated its prestigious name to the history and legends of Provence, from antiquity to the present day.

From the Roman invasion to the Court of King René, and from the irrigation work of engineer and hydraulics specialist Adam de Craponne to the Master of Maillane and the Félibrige, Frédéric Mistral, and including the films of Marcel Pagnol, this 27-centuries-long journey through time is accompanied by many special effects, such as the blowing of the Mistral wind and the song of the cicadas, as well as the omnipresent theme of "woman and water", the two sources of fertility: legendary women, such as Princess Gyptis, or virtuous women such as Sainte Marche in the Christian epic, and women of power, such as Queen Jeanne with her dynastic conspiracies.

A 40-minute audio tour is available among the 16 scenes and 56 wax models.

Grévin Museum of Provence
Place des Centuries à Salon-de-Provence
04 90 56 36 30 / 04 90 45 32 11
m.grevin@salon-de-provence.org

Open Monday to Friday from 09.00 to 12.00 and from 14.00 to 18.00.
Saturday and Sunday from 14.00 to 18.00

Guided tours for groups by appointment. Audio guides in German, English, Italian, Spanish and Provençal.
Temporary exhibitions and lectures.

PRICES:

€4.50 Full price

€3.00 Reduced price for: 1) Young people up to age 25, 2) Holders of a “large family” card, 3) Seniors over 60, 4) Disabled persons and one person accompanying them, 5) Persons accompanying a "Yes" youth card holder, 6) Teachers not resident in Salon-de-Provence, 7) Groups of 10 or more, 8) Other approved pass holders (Bouches-du-Rhône Tourist Board holiday pass, Guide du Routard, and Yes card)

Free for: 1) Under 25's, 2) Job seekers and people on minimum social benefit, 3) Teachers of primary and secondary schools on professional visits, 4) curators of public collections, 5) Journalists on professional visits, 6) Members of the Ministry of Defence - Empéri Museum only, 7) Holiday Advantage Pass holders, 8) Drivers of school or travel agency coaches

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Savon de Marseille (Marseille soap) Museum

In 1900 Marius Fabre created his soap factory in Salon-de-Provence.

The museum traces the fascinating history of soap in Provence starting in the Middle Ages, of which the Marius Fabre soap factory has kept the most valuable examples: engraved boxwood stamps, tools, first soap moulds, stencils for shipment cases, old packaging, headed paper, wash boards, etc.

Reflecting a very old tradition that is still alive today, this museum is the fruit of a family adventure which has lasted more than 100 years.

Savon de Marseille (Marseille soap) Museum
Savonnerie Marius Fabre
148, avenue Paul-Bourret. BP 12. 13300 Salon-de-Provence
04 90 53 82 75 / 04 90 53 41 54
info@marius-fabre.fr / www.marius-fabre.fr

Open Monday to Friday from 09.30 to 12.00 and from 14.00 to 17.00 (16.00 on Friday)

Prices: Tour of the Savon de Marseille Soap factory and Museum
€3.50 Full price (€2.50 Tour of the Savon de Marseille Museum alone)
€1.50 reduced price for students and senior citizens
Free for children under 15 and Salon residents

The factory is open to visitors on Monday and Thursday (tours begin at 10.30 precisely). The factory shop is also open at the same times as the Museum.

Please note: Open from Monday to Friday, except bank holidays, closed between Christmas and New Year, no tours of the soap factory in the second fortnight of August, or during the Christmas holidays.

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