Espace Culturel Paul Gauguin


A homage to Gauguin that traces the artist's life through locally painted reproductions of his art. The main signs are translated into English but the detailed info with tidbits about the individual works, alas, are only in French. The Maison du Jouir (House of Pleasure) is an abandoned-looking replica of Gauguin’s house with a lifelike statue of the artist inside.


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Nearby attractions

1. Centre Jacques Brel

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Behind the Espace Culturel Paul Gauguin you’ll find a big aircraft hangar. In the centre is Jacques Brel’s plane, Jojo; faded posters tracing the musician…

2. Tohua Pepeu

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Restored for the 1991 Marquesas Arts Festival, the Tohua Pepeu faces Banque Socredo in the centre of town. It’s used today as a festivities centre, where…

4. Catholic Church

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The Catholic church, right in the centre of Atuona, is worth a peek for its elegant architecture that combines wood and stone.

5. Mairie

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The Atuona mayor's office.

6. Atuona Beach

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Framed by basaltic cliffs, this wide curve of black sand is very scenic – it inspired painter Paul Gauguin, which is saying a lot – but it’s not…

7. Calvaire Cemetery

0.28 MILES

A must-see for Gauguin and Brel devotees is the Calvaire Cemetery, perched on a hill overlooking Atuona. You will find this frangipani-filled graveyard an…

8. Tevitete Ancient Cemetery

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This isolated, poignant site about 2km up in a valley (ask for directions) features a series of tombs made of stones; note the small tiki that are carved…