Butterfly Museum, Saint-Tropez Travel Guide

La Maison des Papillons, also known as the Musée Dany Lartigue, is a unique and captivating museum located in the heart of Saint-Tropez. Founded by painter Dany Lartigue, the museum houses an impressive collection of over 35,000 butterfly specimens from around the world, including rare and protected species. The museum is set in Lartigue's former family home, a traditional Tropezian house in the old town. Lartigue, the son of photographer Jacques-Henri Lartigue, began collecting butterflies and studying them. As an artist, Dany Lartigue arranged the butterflies in a unique way, displaying them over landscapes he painted himself. This artistic approach highlights the colors and details of the butterflies and demonstrates their camouflage in their natural habitats. The museum serves an aesthetic, educational, and scientific role, attracting nature and art lovers alike. The collection includes French species, such as the rare Apollon Noir from the Mercantour region, as well as exotic butterflies from South America and Africa. The museum's displays offer insight into the life cycle, environment, and conservation of these delicate creatures. Dany Lartigue donated the museum to the city to ensure its preservation.