A few kilometers from Marseille lies the small town of Aubagne, famous for its manufacture of santons, clay figurines typical of the nativity scene.
The town is also famous for being the birthplace of writer and filmmaker Marcel Pagnol, to whom the municipality continues to pay tribute.
Aubagne is a town positioned in southern Provence, a few kilometers from the metropolis of Marseille. The town is home to the headquarters of the General Command of the Foreign Legion, where enlistments take place.
Aubagne is famous as a place of clay and handicrafts. Throughout the entire territory of this city one can find numerous local craft boutiques producing pottery, vases and faience. The uniqueness of these products lies precisely in their handcrafting.
Aubagne is called a town of clay thanks to the Santons, hand-decorated nativity figurines sold all over the world.
Aubagne is also famous for being the birthplace of Marcel Pagnol (1895-1974), writer, filmmaker, and academic. The artist lived here until the age of three, before his family moved to Marseille.
The ground floor of the birth house has become a museum, with its two scenic spaces: a reconstruction of the Pagnol family apartment (period furniture and objects), and an exhibition space (photos, objects, letters), as well as a projection room (20 seats).
In this late 19th century apartment, everything is designed so that visitors can immerse themselves in the atmosphere and atmosphere of Marcel Pagnol’s family home.
Another place dedicated to the writer and filmmaker is the Petit Monde de Marcel Pagnol. Inside are 200 Santons, a tribute to Marcel Pagnol’s literary and cinematic creation. The Santons were made by the greatest clay artists in the Pays d’Aubagne andÉtoile region.
In 2018, the museum closed its doors and the Santons were moved to theAtelier Thérèse Neveu museum space.
With its 60.000 visitors a year, Petit Monde de Marcel Pagnol is both a heritage institution dear to Aubagne, but also the emblem of the territory’s cultural identity, bringing together in one place the art of our santon masters and the Provence of Marcel Pagnol.