Aubagne Minerals Fossils Crystals and Well-being Jewelry and Gemstones Fair

Aubagne, city of Pagnol and capital of Provence santons

Aubagne is a town in the Bouches-du-Rhône department, located 17 kilometers east of Marseille, at the foot of the Garlaban massif, which culminates at 714 meters. Birthplace of Marcel Pagnol (1895-1974), a writer, playwright, and filmmaker whose work immortalized the landscapes and characters of Provence, Aubagne proudly cultivates this literary and cinematic heritage. The Petit Monde de Marcel Pagnol, a museum dedicated to the author's universe through scenes recreated with santons, testifies to this unbreakable link between the city and its most famous son.

Aubagne is also recognized as the French capital of santons. The clay soils of the commune have been exploited since antiquity for the manufacture of ceramics, amphorae, and, since the 18th century, these Provençal figurines that populate Christmas nativity scenes. No less than 38 santon and ceramic workshops are active in the commune, perpetuating artisanal know-how inscribed in intangible cultural heritage. The Village des Santons en Provence presents over 3,000 santons spread across 19 recreated villages over 230 m², offering an immersive journey into Provençal landscapes and traditions.

The old town of Aubagne, a former medieval city surrounded by ramparts in the 14th century, preserves remarkable monuments: the Porte du Gachiou, the main entrance to the fortified city, the Saint-Sauveur church founded in the 11th century, the Clock Tower, the triangular bell tower of the Observance, and the Chapelle des Pénitents noirs.

The Agora Congress Center, setting for the fair

The Agora Congress Center, located at 248 avenue des Paluds in the Paluds industrial zone, is an event space of 4,000 m² that can be adapted. Ideally located near the A52 motorway and with ample free parking, it offers a functional and spacious setting for hosting fairs, congresses, and exhibitions. It is in this venue that the Minerals Fossils Fair, organized by Animotions, is held each year in the spring.

A fair between science, art, and well-being

The Aubagne Minerals Fossils Crystals and Well-being Fair offers an immersion into the fascinating world of Earth sciences and jewelry creation. On 1,400 m², about thirty professional exhibitors, from all over France and abroad, unveil their finds and creations:

• Raw and polished minerals: quartz, amethysts, agates, calcites, fluorites, and rare specimens from deposits around the world
• Fossils: ammonites, trilobites, shark teeth, petrified wood, and other witnesses to millions of years of geological history
• Crystals and lithotherapy: stones with renowned energetic properties, accompanied by advice from specialists in lithotherapy and well-being
• Precious and semi-precious gemstones: rubies, sapphires, emeralds, tourmalines, opals, garnets, and collector's stones
• Artisanal jewelry: contemporary creations set with natural stones, jewelry in silver, gold, and fine stones
• Meteorites and geological curiosities: meteorite fragments and exceptional pieces for discerning collectors

The price range is very wide, from a small stone for €1 intended for children to museum-quality pieces for the most demanding collectors. This accessibility makes the fair an event truly open to all audiences.

A spectacular thematic exhibition

One of the unique features of this fair is its complementary thematic exhibition of 700 m², the subject of which changes with each edition. The first years highlighted dinosaurs, with over 12 life-size reproductions accompanied by an educational trail — paleontological digs, giant puzzles, and a free photo booth for children. For the 5th edition in 2026, the chosen theme is Prehistory, retracing human evolution and presenting reproductions of animals from the ice age — mammoths, smilodons — in a journey between knowledge and imagination.

Free activities for children accompany each edition: workshops on painting with natural ochre, giant word games, and photo areas, transforming the visit into a fun and educational family outing.

Animotions, specialized organizer

The fair is organized by Animotions, a company led by Richard Blanc, specializing in the creation and installation of thematic events and the organization of mineral fairs across France. Animotions also organizes similar fairs in Orléans, Troyes, Nîmes, Chambéry, and Aix-en-Provence, relying on a network of loyal exhibitors and recognized logistical expertise in the field of mineralogy and gemology.