The Annonciade Museum (« le Musée de l’Annonciade »), renowned as one of the most charming in France, is a constant reminder of the renewed history of Saint-Tropez from the beginning of the 20th century. It is Paul Signac who, discovering this small fishing port of his yacht the Olympia in the year 1892, established its prominence. Even though he had purchased a house in the village, which he will later make his workshop, this one will become one of the most active leading-edge centers of the pictorial creation. This house, La Hune, from that time received many of its illustrious painters, among them Marquet, Matisse, Cross, and many others.
The collections which succeeded until 1950 are splendid. The work of all the artists who exhibited have shown consistency when you study them. It is therefore through color that they are distinguished, while remaining faithful to figuration and cubism. It is a coherence of painters of the highest quality who make up this group, drawn from the pointillist movements, nabis and fauve. More than twenty paintings are exhibited, all of international standing.
The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 1pm and from 2pm to 6pm.
The Butterfly House (« la Maison des Papillons »): It is an impressive collection, with 20,000 world species displayed in a true Tropezian style house. In 2015, Dany Lartigue renovated it in a very original fashion. The museum’s home-shop area was then furnished and a workshop was then open to the public. It offers a layout worthy of this extraordinary collection of butterflies from all walks of life detected by the entomologist.
A multi-faceted artist, we often meet Dany Lartigue on the edge of the old port alley, with a net in his hand.
The museum is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 2pm to 5pm.
Entrance fee: €2 only for adults, free for children under 12
The Museum of the Gendarmerie and Cinema (« Le Musée de la Gendarmerie et du Cinéma »): No one can ignore the fact that between Saint-Tropez and the Cinema it has been very beautiful love story that has grown, especially when they were associated with the Gendarmerie for the famous saga of the Gendarmes.
The museum is located near the splendid Hôtel de Paris, which was completely renovated and opened in late June 2016. Everyone will remember the numerous scenes, shot by the famous team of the Saint-Tropez Brigade from 1979 until 2013. This then became an emblematic venue, after having fulfilled public functions since 1838.
When you first walk in you are given an explanation on the representation of Gendarme (The constable), and then on the global History of Cinema in Saint-Tropez. This area shows you a whole host of achievements that were shot in the Peninsula of Var. The various professions related to the cinema are honored there, without forgetting the icon of these mythical venues, the sculptural Brigitte Bardot. After having learned the ropes, with accomplishments such as « La Servante de Jean Choux » in 1930, or « Pour un Soir » by Jean Godard in 1931, she became an international star in the famous « And God Created Woman » by Roger Vadim, her first husband.
The museum is open daily from 10am to 8:30pm.