©

Culture Aubagne Petit Monde Panisse

|

JPVallorani

Marcel Pagnol's Little World

  1. Home
  2. Discover the region
  3. Culture and heritage
  4. Marcel Pagnol
  5. Marcel Pagnol’s Little World

Step back in time at Marcel Pagnol’s Petit Monde, in Aubagne. In this intimate museum, santons recount the author’s childhood, the Provence of yesteryear and the stories that have marked generations. An invitation to travel through the world of Marcel Pagnol, between hills, villages and childhood memories.

Ajouter aux favoris

Marcel Pagnol, the artist who embodies Provence

Marcel Pagnol (1895-1974) is one of the most famous authors of French literature and cinema of the XXᵉ century. Born in Aubagne in Provence, he was a writer, playwright and filmmaker who portrayed Provençal life in his novels and films, blending humour, emotion and Mediterranean sensibility. He has left his mark on the art world with works that combine friendship, family and the hills of his childhood, such as Manon des Sources, Angèle, La Gloire de mon Père and Le Château de ma Mère. In this way, he adapts his childhood memories with sensitivity and personal emotion. Also renowned for his films, Pagnol has captivated generations of readers and viewers with his lively, authentic style, imbued with humour and human warmth.

©

Maisonpagnol Jpvallorani006 2

The living museum

which plunges you into the world of Marcel Pagnol in Aubagne
©

Collines Village Provençal Diorama Santons Scaturro Petit Monde Marcel Pagnol Oti Aubagne

|

JPVallorani

©

Nouveaupetitmonde Jpvallorani020

|

JEAN PIERRE VALLORANI

©

Daniel Scaturro

What can you see at the Petit Monde museum?

Marcel Pagnol’s Petit Monde is a living museum dedicated to the author’s literary and cinematographic universe, located in the hills above Aubagne. Located in the Ateliers Thérèse Neveu, it offers an immersive tour featuring over 200 santons recreating in miniature the scenes, characters and settings that marked Pagnol’s stories and films.

A living, interactive museum

What’s on display?

  • 200 santons made by the greatest master santon-makers of the Pays d’Aubagne et de l’Étoile, signed in particular by Daniel Scaturro, Meilleur Ouvrier de France.
  • Themed dioramas depicting moments in the artist’s life
  • Reconstructions of sets emblematic of Pagnol’s work
  • Multimedia aids enhanced by sound, light and visual aids to make the experience fun and immersive.
    These miniature stages allow visitors to relive Pagnol’s stories as if in a small theatre in Provence, in keeping with the spirit of the region.

Would you like to visit the museum?

Admission to the museum :
– 3 € per person
– 2 for children aged 6 to 16
– Free for children under 6

Pass for the 2 museums Maison Natale and Petit Monde de Marcel Pagnol :
5 €/person and 3 €/child from 6 to 16 years old

guided tours of Le Petit Monde

For those who would like to find out more about Marcel Pagnol and discover all his anecdotes, every Saturday at 11.30am there is a private guided tour of the museum lasting 45 minutes. Our trained guides will welcome you and tell you all about his history and works. Please note that the doors will remain closed during the tour. Make sure you check the opening days and times.

These tours are also available to groups of 15 or more, by prior arrangement. You can book a slot with the Pays d’Aubagne Intercommunal Tourist Office by e-mail at [email protected].

©

Nouveaupetitmonde Jpvallorani016 1

The Workshops

du Petit Monde de Marcel Pagnol

Santons: a Provençal art brought to light

©

Daniel Scaturro

At the heart of the museum, the Provencal santons are much more than just figurines: they tell the story of a Provence that is alive, traditional and full of character. These clay figures, representative of daily life, local folklore and the heroes of Pagnol’s novels, are the expression of a craft handed down from generation to generation in the region.

Each santon, hand-sculpted by local santon-makers, illustrates a scene, a craft or a character emblematic of Marcel Pagnol’s stories, making this exhibition a real tribute to Provence’s cultural heritage.

The story of Marcel Pagnol's Petit Monde

The story of Marcel Pagnol’s Petit Monde began in 1974, when Aubagne’s santonniers and créchistes decided to pay tribute to the local man. They restored an old bandstand on the Esplanade de Gaulle to display a reconstruction of the hills of Aubagne, populated by 200 santons illustrating the life and work of Pagnol.

For 44 years, this “little world” was displayed in this public space, before being transferred in 2018 to the Ateliers Thérèse Neveu, a museum that showcases both the art of santon-making and the world of Marcel Pagnol.

Today, the exhibition has become a not-to-be-missed cultural event for lovers of literature, Provençal tradition and arts and crafts, offering an experience that is as educational as it is poetic. Le Petit Monde de Marcel Pagnol is both a heritage institution dear to the hearts of the people of Aubagne and a symbol of the region’s cultural identity.

©

sdr_HDRB clone tag: 7935351371640456562

|

EB OTI Aubagne

This is where the “Belle santonnière” lived and worked.
the “Belle santonnière”, sister of Louis Sicard:
Thérèse Neveu

At the beginning of the tour, to pay tribute to this great lady of the art of santon making, Thérèse Neveu (1866-1946),
a historical space is naturally dedicated to the “belle santonnière”.
She created around a hundred models of santons inspired by the people of Aubagne, Provençal literature and folklore.

Discover also

the world of marcel pagnol