The most beautiful exhibitions in Provence Verte and Haut-Var: Summer Calendar
06/01/2025
A landscape of light and contrasts, the Var region has always inspired artists and art lovers. From museums to art centres, from châteaus to wine estates, exhibitions in Provence and the Haut-Var pop up all summer long in these spectacular locations steeped in history. From Flassans-sur-Issole to Châteauvert, via La Celle, Le Thoronet, and Draguignan, follow our artistic itinerary that extends less than 40 km from Cotignac
La Falaise Art Centre
A true centre dedicated to the arts, this spot nestled in the heart of Cotignac brings high-end art to the local people and presents two exhibitions a year alongside an eclectic program of concerts and conferences.
Oro Lucem, Zad Moultaka
For its 10th anniversary, the La Falaise Art Centre is presenting an exceptional exhibition by Zad Moultaka. The Lebanese artist unveils Oro Lucem, a unique visual and sound installation. A composer and visual artist trained in France, he weaves a unique language between East and West, blending sound, visual art and spirituality in a resolutely contemporary work.
Thoronet Abbey
Famous for its architecture and its exceptional acoustics, this Cistercian abbey dates from the 12th century and offers a rich programme of concerts and exhibitions.
Berceuses pour la tempête, Laurence Aëgerter
A French artist based in the Netherlands, Laurence Aëgerter explores the visible and the invisible through a variety of techniques. At the Thoronet Abbey, she presents three artistic works inspired by miracles: a phosphorescent tapestry, a video exploring Provençal abbeys through light, and a sound composition composed of sighs. This is a sensory experience that resonates with the architecture and spirituality of the site.
The Contemporary Art Centre of Châteauvert
A black metal cube structure overlooking a sunny meadow and bordered by the Argens River, this art centre invites you to wander between its temporary exhibitions and the sculptures that fill out the rich gardens.
Et l’ombre disparaîtra dans le soleil, Katia Kameli
This solo exhibition by Katia Kameli brings together existing works and new creations designed for the Art Centre. Inspired by Farid od-din Attar’s Song of the Birds, this exhibition has been enriched at each stage, both in France and internationally. New pieces have deepened the theme and offer a fresh interpretation of the whole.
La Celle Abbey
Listed as a historic monument since 1886, La Celle Abbey hosts temporary exhibitions that bring the site into resonance with works by contemporary artists.
Utopia, Georges Rousse
Owned by the Var Department since 1992, the abbey has offered the public an annual contemporary art exhibition for several years. In 2025, it welcomed Georges Rousse, a photographer and visual artist, who took over the space with two temporary creations and a retrospective that goes with it. His work establishes a subtle dialogue between painting, architecture, history, and photography – captured in all its intensity by a mere whisper of the final image.
Commandery of Peyrassol
In its true wine-growing setting, the Commanderie de Peyrassol combines contemporary art and the art of living. The Philippe Austruy collection is set in amongst the vineyards and general vegetation, offering a wonderful art journey.
L’art de ne pas être vorace, Jonathas de Andrade
As part of the Brazil-France cultural season, the exhibition presents the work of Jonathan de Andrade through his relationship with people and their territories. His poetic approach explores the connections between beings, kingdoms, and emotions. Designed for a venue where the environment is a key central player, the exhibition questions our way of inhabiting the world, between sensitive presence and forceful engagement.
HDE Var
In a 19th century building, the “The Var Exhibition Department House” gives two exhibitions a year, inviting the public to discover the history of civilisations, in partnership with major museum institutions across Europe.
Fantômes
The exhibition explores the universal dimension of ghosts and phantoms across humanity’s various civilsations, revealing the diversity of their representations through time and space. Nearly 300 works, ranging from archaeology to contemporary art, illustrate the richness of this topic. The artistic works herald from more than 50 institutions, including the Musée d’Orsay, the MAC VAL, the CNAP, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.
3 must-see art venues within 1 hour's drive
Venet Foundation
A gallery alongside a seven-hectare open air arena bring together more than fifty years of artistic creation, gathered together by the the sculptor and great collector of minimal art, Bernar Venet.
Vasarely Foundation
Facing mount Sainte-Victoire, the Vasarely Foundation unfolds 5,000 m² of futuristic architecture blending art and science, dedicated to the master of pop art and contemporary creation.
Château La Coste
Château La Coste is a wine estate where art, wine, and architecture interact. Forty-five outdoor works and five galleries explore and celebrate the complete freedom granted to the artists.
