Collection Lambert
The Collection Lambert is one of France's most important contemporary art museums outside Paris, housed in two stunning 18th-century mansions in the heart of Avignon. Founded by the legendary Parisian gallerist Yvon Lambert, it features major works by Basquiat, Cy Twombly, Sol LeWitt, Nan Goldin, and Christian Boltanski.
A gallerist's gift to the south of France
Yvon Lambert spent decades at the forefront of the Parisian contemporary art scene before bringing his extraordinary personal collection to Avignon in 2000. In 2012, he donated over 550 major works to the French state - the most significant contemporary art donation since Picasso. The museum doubled its footprint in 2015 with a stunning expansion connecting the Hôtel de Caumont and the adjacent Hôtel de Montfaucon through a minimalist glass atrium.
What you will see
The permanent collection spans Minimalism, Conceptual Art, and Photography, with standout ensembles by Jean-Michel Basquiat, Cy Twombly, Sol LeWitt, Nan Goldin, Andres Serrano, and Miquel Barceló. Site-specific installations are woven directly into the building's architecture - look for Sol LeWitt's wall drawings and Claude Lévêque's immersive attic installation. The Hôtel de Montfaucon hosts ambitious temporary exhibitions that rotate twice a year.
Why it is special
The striking contrast is the point. Raw, edgy, sometimes confrontational contemporary art displayed against the grandeur of classical 18th-century Provençal architecture. Natural light floods the courtyards, and the regal plane trees in the garden create a poetic setting that feels nothing like a typical white-cube gallery.
Practical information
Open Wednesday to Friday from 2 PM to 6 PM, and Saturday to Sunday from 11 AM to 6 PM. In July (during the Festival d'Avignon), open daily from 11 AM to 6 PM. In August, open Tuesday to Sunday. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays during the standard season. Admission is 12 euros (reduced 8 euros, youth 5 euros, under 12 free).
Who is it for?
Anyone who thinks Avignon is only about medieval history. Contemporary art enthusiasts, of course, but also curious visitors looking for something radically different from the Palais des Papes. Allow about 2 hours.
Pair it with
The museum's own café-bookshop, Le Violette, is excellent for a post-visit coffee. It is a six-minute walk from Avignon Centre station and close to Rue des Teinturiers for a complete afternoon in the southern quarter.