Department
Museums, galleries and heritage in Var
135 places to discover across Var.
Including Abbaye du Thoronet, Musée National de la Marine and Basilique Sainte-Marie-Madeleine.
60 of 65 places, sorted by distance from the center
GalleryArt Gallery Dahlgren
Bormes-les-Mimosas
Villa Noailles
Hyères
Galerie Lion d’Or
Hyères
GalleryGalerie Elisabeth Serre
Hyères
GalleryGalerie Massillon
Hyères
GalleryLM Studio
Hyères
GalleryEspace d’art - Françoise Dedon
Hyères
GalleryGalerie d'art Marie Poscia
Hyères
GalleryPour Vous Design
Hyères
GalleryJas de la Rimade
Carcès
GalleryGalerie A
Grimaud
GalleryStudio Paon
Grimaud
GalleryGalerie G
La Garde
GalleryGalerie Bis Cotignac
Cotignac
GalleryCentre d'Art La Falaise
Cotignac
GalleryGalerie d'art Sylvie Adaoust
Signes
GalleryLa Galerie Cotignac
Cotignac
GalleryPaco Como
Cotignac
GalleryCentre d'art contemporain de Châteauvert
Châteauvert
GalleryGalerie d'art Carré d'artistes
Toulon
GalleryGalerie La Porte Etroite
Toulon
MuseumHôtel des Arts TPM
Toulon
GalleryGalerie Zétoil des Mers
Toulon
GalleryMaison Lisa
Toulon
GalleryLa Galerie 15
Toulon
GalleryMetaxu
Toulon
GalleryGalerie l'Axolotl
Toulon
GalleryGalerie d'art Toulon Inna Khimich
Toulon
GalleryGalerie Saint Martin
Saint-Tropez
GalleryGalerie MOA
Sainte-Maxime
GalleryGaleries Bartoux Saint-Tropez
Saint-Tropez
GalleryGaleries Orlinski
Saint-Tropez
GalleryCarousel Fine Art
Saint-Tropez
GalleryL'Atelier Unik
Saint-Tropez
GalleryGalerie Saint Martin
Saint-Tropez
GalleryBel-Air Fine Art Saint-Tropez
Saint-Tropez
GalleryDo You Tropez Art Legacy Jackson Family Foundation
Saint-Tropez
Gallery193 Gallery Saint Tropez
Saint-Tropez
GalleryGalerie Mason-Noirez Saint-Tropez
Saint-Tropez
GalleryGalerie Henri Sié
Saint-Tropez
GalleryGalerie Paul Janssen
Saint-Tropez
GalleryStudio DLL
Saint-Tropez
GalleryGalerie Corinne Kowalski
Saint-Tropez
GalleryGalerie Sol
Saint-Tropez
GalleryGalerie Art et Toiles du Sud
Sainte-Maxime
GalleryGasoline Creation
Villecroze
GalleryToutCePetitMonde
Draguignan
GalleryVilla Tamaris centre d’art TPM
La Seyne-sur-Mer
GalleryAgence Jam-Teery
Ollioules
GalleryAtelier Galerie Baugier
Barjols
GalleryiKON'ART Gallery
Sanary-sur-Mer
GalleryAtelier Galerie FLH
Sanary-sur-Mer
GalleryMaison du Cygne
Six-Fours-les-Plages
GalleryMaison Flotte
Sanary-sur-Mer
GalleryShun Gallery (Sanary sur mer)
Sanary-sur-Mer
GalleryLa Galerie de L'Atelier
Six-Fours-les-Plages
GalleryShun Gallery (Bandol)
Bandol
GalleryTGL gallery
Bandol
GalleryLa galerie Yves Cass
Fréjus
GalleryBeddington Fine Art
Bargemon
A department shaped by the sea and the land
Toulon, the departmental capital, concentrates a dense museum offering tied to its naval identity: the Musée National de la Marine occupies the historic arsenal gate at place Monsenergue, while the Musée d'histoire de Toulon et de sa région and the Musée des Arts Asiatiques share the former home of writer Jean Aicard, mixing local history with Asian art collections.
The department's industrial past surfaces inland and along the coast: the Musée de la Mine de Cap Garonne at Le Pradet retraces a century of copper mining in tunnels open to visitors, and the Musée des Gueules Rouges in Tourves documents the bauxite extraction that once shaped Provence's red-earth landscapes.
Natural sciences and archaeology also have their place, with the Muséum départemental du Var covering the fauna, flora and geology of the territory, and the Musée gallo-romain de Tauroentum in Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer preserving the remains of a Roman coastal settlement.
From the Riviera villages to the Dracénie
Hyères stands out for its concentration of art institutions: the Villa Noailles, a landmark of modernist architecture from the 1920s, hosts design and fashion exhibitions, while the Fondation Carmignac on the Île de Porquerolles presents a major contemporary art collection in a converted 19th-century farmhouse. Nearby, the Musée du Niel occupies a former salt warehouse on the Giens peninsula.
Saint-Tropez has built a reputation as a gallery hub, with addresses such as Bel-Air Fine Art Saint-Tropez, Galeries Orlinski and Sasha de Saint Tropez lining the streets around the port.
Inland, Draguignan anchors the department's exhibition network around the Hôtel départemental des expositions du Var and the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Draguignan, while smaller towns such as Bormes-les-Mimosas, with its MHAB-Musée d'Histoire et d'Art de Bormes, preserve local heritage away from the coastal crowds.
Frequently asked questions
How much time should I plan to visit the Musée National de la Marine in Toulon?
Count on about 1.5 to 2 hours to see the model ships, naval instruments and the historic arsenal gate building itself.
Is the Musée de la Mine de Cap Garonne suitable for children?
Yes, the guided tour through the former copper mine galleries (about one hour) is designed to be accessible and engaging for families.
When is the best time to visit Villa Noailles in Hyères?
Spring, during the Design Parade festival, is ideal to see the modernist villa alongside its temporary design and fashion exhibitions.
Do I need to book in advance to visit the Fondation Carmignac on Porquerolles?
Yes, since the foundation is only reachable by boat to the island, booking tickets and factoring in ferry schedules in advance is recommended.
Are the Var's smaller museums, like the Musée des Gueules Rouges, open year-round?
Many smaller sites operate on seasonal schedules with reduced hours in winter, so it's worth checking opening days before visiting outside summer.
Which Var town has the highest concentration of art galleries?
Saint-Tropez, with galleries clustered around its port such as Bel-Air Fine Art, Galeries Orlinski and Sasha de Saint Tropez, all within easy walking distance.