A charming time-capsule of 19th-century life in Arles
The Museon Arlaten was established in 1896 to record how people lived in and around Arles. Labels are often handwritten in sepia ink and many display cases also appear to be original.Merchandising and promotion are concepts that have not touched the place. There is no catalogue of the collection, never mind a cafe.
Admissions figures reflect this. There were only 55,000 visitors last year. This is a shame because the Museon Arlaten is both a treat and a revelation. How much of this is due to its cranky, old fashioned style will become evident in 2014 or so, when the museum reopens after a full restoration. However, it doesn’t shut until October 25th, so hurry along. …