Reconstruction of the building 1655 (≈ 1655)
Old halls transformed, tower added.
1876
Current construction
Current construction 1876 (≈ 1876)
Work of Auguste Veran for town hall and justice.
1933
Town hall relocation
Town hall relocation 1933 (≈ 1933)
Transfer place of the Gypsies.
1942
Museum Foundation
Museum Foundation 1942 (≈ 1942)
Creation by defenders of traditions.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Key figures
Auguste Véran - Departmental architect
Designed the building in 1876.
Pierre Sibrent - Lyon sculptor
Author of the marble medallions.
Origin and history
The Baroncelli Museum, located in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, was founded in 1942 by a group of enthusiasts wishing to preserve the Camargua traditions. Its collections, now closed to the public, cover local zoology, archaeology and regional folklore. A reopening was planned in the first half of 2022 in a new building, but its current status remains uncertain.
The history of the building once home to the museum dates back to the seventeenth century. Probably from ancient halls transformed in 1655, it would have included a tower, perhaps used as a communal prison. In 1876, architect Auguste Véran, of the Historic Monuments, rebuilt the building to install the city hall and a court court. The town hall remained there until 1933, the date of its transfer place of the Gypsies.
The facades of the building, designed by Véran, had marble medallions carved by Pierre Sibrent, a Lyon artist. These decorative elements, with engraved coat of arms, reflected municipal prestige. After the departure of the town hall, the place was dedicated to the enhancement of the Camargue heritage, before its closure for renovation. The museum preserves the label Musée de France, which guarantees the quality of its collections.
