Visitor’s Guide: Ceramics and Pottery Artists in Provence

Below is our visitor’s guide to help you discover some of Provence’s ceramics and pottery artists. The page is organized alphabetically by department within the region. We have included the artists we know and some galleries and museums worth visiting. Please feel free to send us any suggestions so we can continue to improve this list.

Provencal Ingredients

Provence’s Mediterranean climate and fertile agricultural land are suitable for growing olives, lavender, a wide variety of produce, and grapes for winemaking. The soil varies throughout the region, with abundant clay (argile), probably why the area has so many artisan ceramics and pottery makers. Provence’s ceramics industry is a vibrant and integral part of the region’s cultural and economic landscape. These artists blend traditional craftsmanship with modern innovation, contributing significantly to local heritage and the economy.

Craftspeople throughout the region produce unique earthenware. However, a few of the most famous centres are Moustiers, Biot, and Vallauris. These old French pottery centers and workshops (ateliers) have existed for centuries. Today, other villages scattered across the Provençal landscape produce exceptional pieces sought after for their functional use and decorative beauty. In the South of France, where the history of earthenware is long and cross-cultural, pottery has become an essential component of the French country lifestyle.

Understanding Ceramics and Pottery

A Long History

Discoveries of clay amphoras and other terracotta objects on private and public land in Provence have been archaeologically dated. Some of these objects trace back to even before the Roman era. In Marseille, the Musée des Docks Romains has a collection of archaeological objects unearthed from the Greek and Roman eras, including dolia (large clay amphorae used to transport wine).

Musée des Docks Romains
28 Place Vivaux
13002 Marseille
Telephone: +33 (0)4 91 91 24 62
The museum is closed on Mondays.

During the Middle Ages, expanding Mediterranean trade routes and the need for material transport necessitated a strong ceramics industry. In parallel, religious orders and monastic communities created a demand for specific objects. Ceramic objects from this period were primarily utilitarian.

However, the Renaissance period (14th to 17th centuries) heralded a demand for better materials, impeccable craftsmanship, and beautiful finishes.

Present-day Provencal ceramics, constantly evolving, are a testament to the beauty and creativity of the region. While experimenting with new techniques, glazes, and shapes, modern artists and artisans remain connected to traditional methods, creating inspiring and intriguing pieces.

---

Alpes-de-Haute-Provence Ceramics and Pottery

Forcalquier: Artists Open Doors

The association Les Ateliers Forcalquier organizes an annual festival, “Les Ateliers Ouverts, “over a weekend at the end of July. Dedicated to art, this symbolic event in the heart of summer is an excellent occasion to discover Forcalquier and the creative, friendly spirit that is part of the town’s DNA. Every street corner will reveal a new creation in this charming town, recognized for decades as a cradle of artistic life. Artists and craftspeople will open the doors of their shops and studios, inviting you to discover their work.

Many Artistic Reasons to Visit Forcalquier

Moustiers for Faïence Ceramics

In the 17th century, a clergyman from Faenza, Italy, introduced the art of faïence making to artisans in Moustiers Sainte Marie. This tin-glazed earthenware with intricate, colourful designs often features floral motifs, pastoral scenes, and mythological themes. Once produced for French nobility, these finely decorated dishes, pots, urns, and vases have a white-glazed base. The central production locations for faience in Provence centred around Marseille, Moustiers Sainte Marie, and Varages, another village in the Haut Var.

Head to beautiful Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, where you’ll find several artisans practicing the antique craft of making faïence ceramics.

The Bondil family has been in business since 1980. Recognized as an “Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant” (a Living Heritage Company), the atelier has stayed true to the Moustiers production methods dating back to the 17th century. L’Atelier Bondil offers traditional faïence patterns and more contemporary styles made entirely by hand.

L’Atelier Bondil
7048 Rue de la Bourgade,
04360 Moustiers-Sainte-Marie

Musée de la Faïence (website)
Rue du Seigneur de la Clue,
04360 Moustiers-Sainte-Marie

---

Alpes-Maritimes Ceramics and Pottery

Vallauris for Terracotta

Provencal terracotta pottery, made of red clay, includes various products, from utilitarian kitchenware to decorative pieces. Vallauris Golfe-Juan—”city of 100 potters”—is a tourist town on the French Riviera between Antibes and Cannes. Its name (Valauria in Provencal) means “the golden valley.” The city has two parts: the old centre of Vallauris and the seaside section running from the port along the Côte d’Azur towards Antibes. The original pottery of Vallauris is traditional culinary ceramics from the Roman era because of nearby clay deposits.

Italian families from Genoa settled in the city in the 16th century following a deadly epidemic. This timeframe marks the beginning of pottery activity by individual artisans. In the 17th century, the pottery craft activity developed further, becoming a significant economic driver of the city.

The advent of the railway in the 19th century allowed the potters to organize commercial enterprises. They worked in large factories and exported their production. Utensils and kitchen containers become the specialty of Vallauris. This terracotta pottery enamelled with a clear glaze is the distinct “trademark” of the town’s pottery.

However, 20th-century modernization brought a decline in artisanal pottery activity in Vallauris. After WWII, Picasso’s settlement in the city gave new impetus to the pottery of Vallauris. Like a magnet, Picasso’s presence drew artists like Jean Marais and others.

Vallauris was fashionable from 1950-60 as ceramics developed into an art form. The Massier brothers Clément, Delphin, and cousin Jérôme prompted the trend towards ceramics as art in the late 1800s. Since then, the craft has continued, but overall, it has included decorative ceramics and tableware.

Buy Earthenware from Vallauris

Musée Magnelli, Musée de la céramique (website)
Place de la Libération,
06220 Vallauris

---

Bouches du Rhônes Ceramics and Pottery

Aubagne: Christmas Figures

Just east of Marseille, Aubagne is a hotbed of glazed pottery production, thanks to the presence of the river Huveaune. Artisan pottery workshops have existed in Aubagne for at least a century, as clay is found readily in the local soil. Some large family factories still exist, such as the Ravel pottery jars specialist or Sicard establishments, which are creators of the famous cicada. Aubagne is also recognized for the work of its local santonniers, the makers of the small clay figures that appear in Provencal Christmas nativity scenes. Every summer, a large ceramics market takes place in Aubagne.

A real santon of Provence is fashioned and painted by hand in clay. This traditional craft for the Provencal nativity creche continues throughout southern France, in a territory corresponding to the influence of Occitan culture. There is a high concentration of santonniers in Aubagne, Marseille, Aix en Provence, and Arles.

Holiday Shopping: Santons from Provence

Aubagne: Ceramics Fair

ARGILLA is a biennial marketplace for ceramics artists held over a weekend in August. Each year, a country is selected as the event’s thematic focus. This international pottery market and festival is open to the public, and organizers expect as many as 85,000 visitors to Aubagne during those two days.

Argilla France (Facebook Page)

---

Vaucluse and Luberon Ceramics and Pottery

Auribeau:

The Terra Mea Ceramique (photo above) workshop is in Auribeau, an idyllic, unspoilt village in the Luberon Valley near Apt. The artists Neu Falguera and Jon Runsten work with stoneware clay. Their collaborative work focuses on natural tones and unique neutral glazes. Terra Mea Ceramique products are available at select markets and art shows annually. During the summer, they also offer three-hour hands-on courses for adults interested in testing their artistic skills.

Terra Mea Ceramique (website)
Lieu-dit Le Bastidon
No 48, Route Departementale 48
84400-Auribeau
By appointment only.

Caromb:

The village of Caromb is a place you pass through on your way to somewhere else in the Vaucluse. Caromb has a quiet charisma and, like many Provençal villages, is bathed in the dappled light of ancient plane trees. According to local legends, Caromb was once the haven of alchemists, though today, the only real alchemist is the ceramicist and potter Jean-Noël Peignon.

Joel-Noël Peignon creates beautiful, functional pottery and decorative pieces. Each piece is unique, hand-turned, decorated, and glazed in blue, green, and gold earth tones. Each piece is fired twice, meaning his pottery is heat resistant: microwave, dishwasher, and oven-proof. His workshop is as simple as his tools: clay, a kiln, imagination, and craft.

Provençal pottery was, and still is, a part of daily life, especially Jean-Noël’s. If you are lucky, he’ll guide you through his atelier, show you how he glazes pieces, possibly throw a piece on his wheel, and talk about his other artistic endeavours.

An Artistic Visit to Caromb

Poterie de Caromb
2, rue de la Recluse
84330 Caromb
Telephone:+33 (0)4 90 62 39 60

Valréas:

1998 Marie Pierre and Cyrille Huyghues Despointes launched their ceramics workshop, Atelier Romain Bernex. They had a shared vision to open their ceramics studio. The slightly crazy concept was triggered one spring evening by the light of a glowing ceramic kiln. Marie Pierre and Cyrille brought to the project a passion for creation from their backgrounds in the design and manufacture of furniture.

Atelier Bernex designs are contemporary, and the pieces are finished with bright, customized glazes. The company sells 80% of its production to boutiques, hotels, and specialty stores in France and exports to many countries in Europe and worldwide.

Atelier Romain Bernex (website)
124 Chemin de Fanfinette,
84600 Valréas, France
Telephone: +33 (0)4 42 04 79 89
Schedule an appointment in advance.

Ceramics and Pottery Fairs

Formed in 1986, Terres de Provence Céramistes & Potiers en Provence Alpes Côte-d’Azur now includes more than half the professional potters in the Provence, Alpes, Côte d’Azur region with 120+ workshops in the region’s six departments. In addition, they organize dedicated pottery markets on most weekends, running from April through October. There is an interactive map on their website with workshops throughout the region.

Not Far from Provence

Anduze (Gard):

Located on the border of the Cevennes, Anduze has been producing utilitarian pottery (tiles, drain pipes, etc.) since the Middle Ages. However, since the 17th century, the village is known for the “Vase d’Anduze,” a unique ornamental pottery. The vases of Anduze were born thanks to a family of potters who discovered a way to protect the fashionable orange trees under Louis XIV’s reign (or at least that’s the legend). The giant, glazed earthenware vases from Anduze provided the opportunity to move the shrubs into an orangery for shelter against the elements. Today, many of the most beautiful garden vases come from Anduze.

Dieulefit (Drôme):

In the Drôme Provençale, Dieulefit also has been a pottery city for centuries. Its geographical location probably favoured the development of this craft with forest and the Rhône River nearby. There was indeed water for mixing the earth and wood for firing pottery. The production is centred around the glazed pottery for daily use, as in Saint Quentin. A few dozen craftsmen maintain the pottery activity today.

6 Food Specialities of the Drôme

Saint-Quentin-la-Poterie (Gard):

Situated northeast of Uzès between the forests and the farmlands of the Uzège region, Saint-Quentin-la-Poterie is an old village with colourful houses and medieval history. Often referred to as France’s ceramic capital, clay has shaped the town’s history since the Middle Ages, with kilns for baking clay dating back to the 13th century. The relics of a potter’s kiln dating from the 12th or 13th centuries indicate that the pottery industry there is ancient. The village experienced its heyday in the Middle Ages when the popes in Avignon ordered their floor and wall tiles and other objects from the potters of Saint Quentin. Not to be missed when visiting the village is the kiln of refractory bricks, one of the oldest kilns still intact. Over a few floors, you can discover the workings of an authentic kiln. It’s a pretty fantastic experience!

Today, the pedestrian-friendly town is full of artists’ workshops, including 35 ceramic studios, so the “Ville et Métiers d’Art” label is merited.

Meet the Artists of Saint-Quentin-la-Poterie

Musée de la Poterie Méditerranéenne (website)
14 rue de la fontaine
30700 Saint-Quentin-la-Poterie
The opening hours and days vary throughout the year. Please check the website in advance.

Don’t miss: The Fontaine de Griffe, a public fountain that was restored in 1983 by Martine Lafon and other local artists.