Avignon museums

There are over ten museums in Avignon and they are all worth a visit. If you arrive in Avignon and you have bad luck to find it is raining you can still have a great city break. There are Museums to interest everyone; art galleries, Egyptian, Greek, Roman museums, historical building museums, and Natural history museums. The Tourist office is the place to go for a discount card. Be careful many of the Museums are closed on Tuesday. Some close for a lunch break at 1pm out of the summer season.

Avignon museums

Le Musee du Petit Palais

Near the Palace des Papes square has an outstanding collection of Italian and Provencal paintings from the 13th century to the beginning of 16th century as well as Roman and Gothic sculpture. It is open all week apart from Tuesday. From June to September in the summer season it opens it's doors 10am to 6pm. The rest of the year it closes for an hour for lunch at 1pm and reopens at 2pm.

Le Musee Calvet

Le musee Calvet can be found at 65 rue Joseph Vernet. It has the same opening hours as Le musee du Petit Palais. Le musee Calvet is housed inside a magnificent 18th century private mansion. It contains a varied collection of paintings and sculptures from the 15th century to the 20th century.

Le Musee Lapidaire

Le musee Lapidaire can be found 27 rue de la Republique. It is open all week apart from Tuesday. From June to September in the summer season it opens it's doors 10am to 6pm. The rest of the year it closes for an hour for lunch at 1pm and reopens at 2pm. Le musee Lapidaire houses a collection of sculptures from Egyptian, Greek and Roman history

Le Musee Angladon

Le musee Angladon is at 5 rue laboureur in Avignon, It is only open Wednesday to Sunday 1pm to 6pm. In the summer it is also open on Tuesday. It is a Private house in the heart of the old Avignon. On the ground floor you can view paintings from great artists from 19th and 20th century like Degas, Van Gogh, Cezanne, Vuillard, Picasso, Modigliani, Foujita, Upstairs, there are works of art from the 18th century. One of the rooms has been dedicated to the far east.

Roman Mosaic

Le Musee Louis Vouland

Le Musee Louis Vouland is at 17 rue Victor Hugo. It is closed on Monday and open 2 - 6pm. It is closed during the month of February. It is housed in a beautiful mansion, the prestigious collections of decorative art from 17th and 18th century: Parisian furniture, china, tapestries, painting and a new collection of paintings of artists from Avignon and Provence from 19th century.

Le Musee Requien

Le Musee Requien is at 67 rue Joseph Vernet. If you are on holiday with children and it is raining this is where to take them. It is the Natural History Museum created in the XIXth century by Esprit Requien. Regional geology and zoology. Temporary exhibitions. Free entrance. It is closed on Sunday and Monday open 10pm to 6pm. Outside the high season it closes for lunch at 1pm

Le Palais du Roure

Le Palais du Roure at 3 rue College du Roure houses exhibits of Provencal history, literature and archaeology. There are guided visits on Tuesday at 3pm and by appointment. This is the day when most of the other Museums are closed. So if you are in Avignon on a Tuesday this is the place to go to. The 1st floor is open during exhibitions. The Library is open to researchers from Monday to Friday, from 9-12am and 2-5.30pm except August and holidays

Collection Lambert en Avignon

Collection Lambert en Avignon is at 5, rue Violette. This contemporary art museum covers the great art movements of our time : Minimal art, Conceptual art, Land art from the 60s and 70s, painting from the 80s, photography and video from the 90s. Works by leading artists such as Cy Twombly, Sol LeWitt, Donald Judd, Niele Toroni, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Anselm Kiefer, Christian Boltanski, Nan Goldin, Douglas Gordon and Jenny Holzer. It holds three temporary exhibitions each year in conjunction with presentations of artworks from the Collection Lambert in Avignon. It is open every day in the summer 11am - 6pm. It is closed on Monday outside that period.

La Maison Jean Vilar

La Maison Jean Vilar can be found at 8, rue de Mons. It holds exhibits, events and meetings. It is a resource center (library and videotheque) on the performing arts. You can find archives on Jean Vilar and the Avignon Festival. There are entrance fees to some exhibits. It is not open Sunday or Monday.

Le Mont de Piete

Le Mont de Piete is at 6, rue Saluces. Is a very unusual museum. It houses the oldest pawnbroker's museum in France. Entrance is free.

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