aixcentric

This weekend, I decided to go and visit the exhibition about the 23 trees that are

It looks so ordinary from outside…

being threatened by the Places Verdun-Precheurs development. And I will come back to these trees. But first, I was amazed, on pushing open the door to this former school, the College des Precheurs, at the beautiful building inside.

You walk into what was a 15th century convent, the base for the order of Precheurs, with vaulted cloisters and a large courtyard garden, currently a bit neglected but so spacious.

I now learn that, since the college pupils dispersed elsewhere, there are plans to make this a museum, possibly dedicated to Picasso.  Madame le Maire said in a La Provence interview this weekend that, ‘ nous sommes toujours en discussion’, but  it would depend on money from central government.

It seems a fabulous space and the courtyard could make a wonderful restaurant.  Look how popular the Caumont Centre d’Art is. There is clearly an appetite for the combination of art, eating and a historic environment in Aix.  If

Spacious courtyard

you want to have a look around, the trees exhibition is on until the end of September, and the rooms will also be providing information on the archaeological developments of the dig outside for the foreseeable future. There are currently info panels on the history of the town centre.

So, back to the trees.  It seems that 20 of the 23 plane trees are affected by diseases which cause the branches to die off and fall, or by mushroom-type parasites that hollow out the trunks.  The condition of the other 3 is said to be ‘préoccupant’. 

All very convenient when you want to clear the area for a tidy new urbanisation project say the critics.

Not so, says the mayor, who has had 2 different teams of experts to examine the

Proposed sites for new trees

trees, and is promising a replanting with a more resilient variety of trees including maples and magnolias.  She is responsible for public safety and feels that her decision is the only correct one.

The exhibition is on until 30th September, Mon-Fri, afternoons only.

The panels on the history of the town centre, which are in a side-room, will be on view until the end of the year, I was told.  

An interesting exhibition for Aix residents – with the added bonus of a 15th century cloister to enjoy.