Musée de la Mode et du Costume: A Fashionable Visit to Arles, France

What do you do when your partner is away? You could make plans with a friend to do something a bit cultural that your partner has no interest in seeing. My husband had returned to Canada at the same time as my friend was also solo for a period, so we planned an outing to Arles to see the newly opened Musée de la Mode et du Costume. There are so many things to do in Arles, and this Fragonard museum adds yet another reason to visit. So, when the “boys” are away, fashion, lunch, and shopping are on the agenda in Arles.

“Dedicated to fashion and costume.”

Photo ©Andrane de Barry

Fragonard Perfume

La Maison Fragonard is a French perfume house that has created exquisite fragrances since 1926. Based in Grasse, Fragonard produces high-quality perfumes, creams, soaps, and other products in its factories on the French Riviera. Fragonard has three factories making its products.

The historical site in Grasse is one of the first buildings you encounter upon arriving in town. Originally a tannery, the building was purchased by Fragonard in 1926. It features an operational factory line along with a perfume museum that is both informative and interactive.

If you need an extra reason to visit Eze, the Fragonard factory is the perfect excuse. This building, opened in 1968, is large and modern. Tours are available.

Outside of Grasse, there is the Flowers’ Factory, built in 1986 after the original location ran out of space. Visitors can tour the Fabrique des Fleurs and see the modern production line and bottling workshops.

Musée de la Mode et du Costume

Instead of simply preserving historical items in the company’s archives, la Maison Fragonard strives to highlight an “art de vivre” that transcends the world of perfume. As part of this vision, the company opened its seventh museum, the Musée de la Mode et du Costume, in Arles in July 2025. This museum is more than just a fashion collection; it offers a journey through history, linking us to the art de vivre of the past.

Photo ©fdeladerriere

The current generation of company directors consists of three sisters: Anne, Agnès, and Françoise Costa. Their shared appreciation for fashion and preservation inspired the concept for this new museum.

Photo ©Hervé Hôte

Hélène Costa, their mother, collected historical costumes from the South of France and beyond. When the Fragonard Musée Provençal du Costume et du Bijou (Provençal Costume and Jewelry Museum) opened in 1997, her collection found a permanent home there. This personal connection to the collection adds a sense of intimacy and authenticity to the museum.

Odile Pascal and her late mother, Magali, proposed to the Costa sisters the idea of creating a space to display their collection of Arlesian costumes alongside the Costa collection. The Costa sisters decided to purchase Pascal’s collection. The inaugural exhibition at the Musée de la Mode et du Costume features this magnificent historical collection.

Photo ©fdeladerriere

Creating a Museum

Perhaps that was the “easy” part. After purchasing the 14th-century hôtel particulier known as the Hôtel Bouchaud de Bussy in Arles, the real work began with a five-year restoration and construction project. Fragonard collaborated with Studio KO and worked alongside the principal architects, Karl Fournier and Olivier Marty, to restore the building to its original glory. The outcome is a stunning refurbishment of the structure, including a magnificent monumental staircase.

Drawing of the museum facade by NDA Architectes

Practical Information

Musée de la Mode et du Costume (website)
16 rue de la Calade,
13200 Arles

Open daily from 10h to 18h, but closed at lunchtime.
The museum is small, and guided tours are available.

Photo ©fdeladerriere

What else is there to do in Arles? Check out our visitor’s guide.

Arles City Guide

Full day Bandol & Cassis Discovery Wine Tour from Marseille

Begin your journey in the medieval village of Le Castellet, perched elegantly atop a wooded hill overlooking lush vineyards. Next, venture into the renowned Bandol wine region.

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Carolyne Kauser-Abbott

With her camera and laptop close at hand, Carolyne has traded in her business suits for the world of freelance writing and blogging. Her first airplane ride at six months of age was her introduction to the exciting world of travel.

While in Provence, Carolyne can be found hiking with friends, riding the hills around the Alpilles or tackling Mont Ventoux. Her attachment to the region resonates in Perfectly Provence this digital magazine that she launched in 2014. This website is an opportunity to explore the best of the Mediterranean lifestyle (food & wine, places to stay, expat stories, books on the region, travel tips, real estate tips and more), through our contributors' articles.

Carolyne writes a food and travel blog Ginger and Nutmeg. Carolyne’s freelance articles can be found in Global Living Magazine, Avenue Magazine and City Palate (Published Travel Articles).