The art of Christmas santons in Les Plus Beaux Villages de France

Traditional or with a modern twist: the art of the Christmas santon in Les Plus Beaux Villages de France

Discover the art of santons in Les Plus Beaux Villages de France! Fancy creating a lovely nativity scene at the foot of your Christmas tree? Whether traditional Provençal or modern, santons are always in vogue and will bring out your inner child! Here is our selection of workshops, museums and exhibitions to inspire you as you create your Christmas nativity scene.

Lavardens (Gers) – Exhibition and sale at the château

Every year, the‘L’art du santon’ exhibition and sale takes place at the château in Lavardens over 20,000 pieces by France’s leading santon makers: Smiglio, Campana, Di Landro and Arterra… This year, the exhibition is scheduled to run from 29 November 2025 to 4 January 2026.

Les Baux-de-Provence (Bouches-du-Rhône) – Santon Museum

In the heart of the town of Les Baux-de-Provence, don’t miss the Santons Museum , which houses a large collection of pieces from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, created by the nuns of the Carmelite convent in Avignon or by famous santon-makers such as Carbonel, Fouque, Jouve, Peyron Campagna, Thérèse Neveu and Simone Jouglas…

Le Castellet (Var) – Provençal nativity scene

In December, the Gabriel Tampon tourist centre at Le Castellet traditionally welcomes visitors with the Provençal nativity scene. A film about the village in days gone by is also screened on this occasion. Open from 19 November 2025.

Gassin (Var) – A unique exhibition of a Neapolitan nativity scene

For the third year running, the tourist office in Gassin is hosting Mr Christian Léandre Ganga’s Neapolitan nativity scene, “a blend of Baroque exuberance, popular devotion and secular theatricality”.

This is an exceptional exhibition of 150 precious Neapolitan santons, all hand-crafted – from the figures’ bodies to their costumes – by Christian Léandre Ganga, set against a monumental backdrop and featuring a number of historical pieces.

The nativity scene will be on display from 1 December 2025 to 2 February 2026 at the Gassin Tourist Office.

Séguret (Vaucluse) – The Santon Maker’s Workshop

In the former stable of the family farm, Denis Voeux – who is also an olive grower – crafts colourful and lifelike traditional Provençal santons, many of which are inspired by the inhabitants of his village of Séguret. His workshop is open to the public all year round, and you can also order his santons via his website.

Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert (Hérault) – Santon Workshop and Museum

The Village of Yesteryear in Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert offers visitors a reconstruction of village life as it was in days gone by, featuring santons often crafted by the owners, Jacques and Hélène, who also sell their creations in the museum shop. Life-size santons and a diorama depicting various scenes from life in days gone by will delight young and old alike.

Sainte-Croix-en-Jarez (Loire) – Adrien’s Santons

Adrien’s Santonsis the name given to the santons created by the young santon-maker from Sainte-Croix-en-Jarez, Adrien Tidjarian. He makes Provençal santons, but also more “local” ones such as the Carthusian monk or the miner.

In search of Christmas nativity scenes in Les Plus Beaux Villages de France…

In the villages of Colmars (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence), Oingt (Rhône) or Flavigny-sur-Ozerain (Côte d’Or), residents, shopkeepers and craftspeople come together every year to display their finest Christmas nativity scenes. Whether crafted by their owners, made in a workshop or bought in a shop, each one has its own character and setting, whether behind a house window or at the corner of an alleyway. From early December to early January, wander the narrow streets of these villages in search of your childhood.