Here you are at the Museum of Bullfighting Cultures, the Musée des Cultures taurines, at 6 rue Alexandre-Ducros, very close to the Arena. Its full name pays tribute to Claude and Henriette Viallat. It is a municipal museum devoted to the culture of the bull, a tradition that is part of the identity of Nîmes. It presents both works of art and everyday objects. The collections bring together more than 30,000 items, over two floors, and cover both the Camargue race and Spanish bullfighting. You may come across works by renowned artists such as Goya, Picasso or Claude Viallat. The museum holds temporary exhibitions, often linked to the ferias. In 2026, the exhibition "Camargue, Land of Waters" runs from 21 May to 31 October: it deals with water management and the natural heritage of the delta. The museum also has a library, the Pierre-Dupuy library, with 12,500 documents, which can be consulted by appointment. Please note that it only opens in the fine season, from May to October.
History
The Claude and Henriette Viallat Museum of Bullfighting Cultures is a museum of the city of Nîmes, located on rue Alexandre-Ducros, near the Arena. It shows how the culture of the bull has become part of the city’s identity.
Art and architecture
The collections bring together more than 30,000 items, works of art and everyday objects, over two floors. They cover the Camargue and Spanish traditions, with works by artists such as Goya, Picasso or Viallat.
Anecdotes
The museum has the Pierre-Dupuy library, with 12,500 documents that can be consulted by appointment. A virtual tour is available on Google Arts & Culture, and free activity booklets are provided for families.
What to look for
Until 31 October 2026, the exhibition "Camargue, Land of Waters" deals with water management and the natural heritage of the Rhône delta. In the permanent collections, compare the objects of the Camargue race with those of Spanish bullfighting.
Practical
The museum is open from 1 May to 31 October, closed on Mondays and on the following public holidays: 1 January, 1 May, 1 and 11 November, 25 December. According to the City of Nîmes, admission to the exhibitions is free and the guided tour costs 3 euros. The ground floor is wheelchair accessible, with no disabled parking on site. Telephone: 04 30 06 77 07.
Nearby
The Arena is just a few steps away. The Esplanade Charles-de-Gaulle and the Pradier fountain are just behind.
On site, look for: Look in the rooms for one work linked to the Camargue race and another linked to the Spanish corrida.
Test yourself
To whom does the museum’s name pay tribute?
- Claude and Henriette Viallat (answer)
- James Pradier
- Pablo Picasso
Roughly how many items does the collection contain?
- 1 million
- 300
- More than 30,000 (answer)
When is the museum open?
- All year round
- From May to October (answer)
- Only in winter
Sources
- City of Nîmes: Musée des Cultures taurines
- Nîmes Tourisme: Musée des Cultures taurines Claude et Henriette Viallat
- OpenStreetMap (Nominatim)
Information checked on 6 October 2026.