Castellane · 04
Citromuseum de Castellane
A museum entirely devoted to the Citroën brand: over 120 original postwar vehicles, brought together over forty years by a passionate collector, on the route de la Palud in Castellane.
- A fully private car museum entirely devoted to postwar Citroëns, created by collector Henri Fradet.
- Over 120 postwar Citroëns in original condition, most of them never restored, with an average mileage of close to 20,000 km.
- A tour of about 2,500 m² spread across three rooms: Traction/DS/M35/GS Birotor, the 2CV and its derivatives/Type H, then GS/BX/CX/SM/youngtimers up to the XM and the Xantia Activa.
- Centrepiece: DS No. 32, presented as the oldest known commercially sold DS, displayed on a turntable in the style of the 1955 Salon de Paris.
- Located on the route de la Palud, about 800 m from the centre of Castellane on the route Napoléon towards Digne, next to camping Terra Verdon.
A unique collection in France
- The Citromuseum is a car museum entirely devoted to the Citroën brand (postwar vehicles).
- According to the museum's official presentation, the collection brings together more than 120 vehicles on display, from the Traction Avant to the Xantia Activa.
- The museum's official website reports the collection's growth over time: 48 vehicles in summer 2005, 88 in summer 2016, then 125 in January 2025.
- The vehicles have an average mileage of close to 20,000 km and most retain their original paint.
- The museum is listed among the museums of the Fédération Française des Véhicules d'Époque (FFVE).
A tour through three rooms
- Room 1: Traction Avant, M35, GS Birotor and DS.
- Room 2: the 2CV and its derivatives, along with the Type H vans.
- Room 3: GS, BX, CX, SM and other youngtimers, up to the XM and the Xantia Activa.
- The whole space covers about 2,500 m², laid out specifically for the museum, with a recreated 1970s-style service station and period advertising items.
The centrepiece: DS No. 32
- The DS bearing serial number 32 is presented by the museum as the oldest known commercially sold DS to date.
- It is displayed on a turntable, in a set recreating its presentation at the Salon de Paris on 6 October 1955.
From a collector's passion to a museum
- The founder, Henri Fradet, became interested in Citroëns from the late 1970s, after buying a 2CV while he was an electronics student (Caradisiac).
- He then spent more than forty years searching for original vehicles across Europe, notably from former Citroën dealers (Caradisiac; official website).
- Opening the museum took five years of administrative procedures (1998-2003), then around a year and a half of construction, largely carried out by Henri Fradet and his partner Yoëlle (Caradisiac).
- Castellane was chosen for its isolation, favourable to the security and preservation of the vehicles, and for its cold, dry climate (Caradisiac).
The Citromuseum is located on the route de la Palud, 04120 Castellane, about 800 m from the village centre, on the route Napoléon towards Digne, next to camping Terra Verdon. According to the official website: from Grenoble, follow the route Napoléon (arriving about 50 minutes after Digne); from Grasse, about 1 hour via the route Napoléon; from Aix-en-Provence, head towards Gap, then take the Les Mées exit towards Digne and Castellane.
Official museum website (opening hours & prices) ↗Frequently asked questions
Where is the Citromuseum located?
On the route de la Palud, 04120 Castellane, about 800 m from the village centre, on the route Napoléon towards Digne, next to camping Terra Verdon.
How many Citroëns are on display at the Citromuseum?
More than 120 vehicles according to the museum's official presentation; the official website mentions 125 vehicles recorded in January 2025, compared with 48 in summer 2005 and 88 in summer 2016.
Who created the Citromuseum?
Collector Henri Fradet, who spent more than forty years searching for original Citroëns across Europe before opening his museum in Castellane.
What is the rarest vehicle in the museum?
DS No. 32, presented by the museum as the oldest known commercially sold DS, displayed on a turntable recreating its presentation at the Salon de Paris in 1955.