aixcentric

Something for everyone this weekend!

‘Les Rencontres du 9e Art’ festival which celebrates the world of bande dessiné begins on Saturday in Aix. It’s a month-long affair with numerous exhibitions, meet-the-author sessions and talks. Details http://www.bd-aix.com.

It’s also the weekend to admire artistry of a different type – that of local craftspeople. ‘Journées Européennes des Metiers is a multinational celebration; here in Aix, there will be 30 professionals showing their products and  meeting the public in the gardens of the Pavillon Vendome.  4-7th April. https://www.journeesdesmetiersdart.fr/manifestation/salon-des-metiers-dart-daix-en-provence-du-4-au-7-avril

If you are visiting this show on Sunday, it’s an opportunity to pay a free visit to the Pavillon Vendome itself.  There’s a new show Anguille sous roche featuring the work of Marie Ducaté, a local artist who has been given the run of the building for her creative response to its history and architecture.  All the municipal museums in town are free on Sunday.  There is also the monthly book market outside the Hotel de Ville which has all sorts of second-hand treats, though at a price.

And now for something completely different to do on Sunday.  There is a tour, at 14:30, of Entremont, the remains of the first settlement near Aix, established by the Celto-Ligurians.  Their encampment was perched high up above the modern town and is fascinating to visit.

Visitors can see the walls of the houses, the traces of roads, and even the old bread ovens.  It was a thriving community until the Romans arrived and destroyed it; many of the inhabitants though were absorbed  into the new town of Aix, established below near the warm springs.  The views up there are stupendous …well worth a visit.  Only 20% of the site has been explored so the guided tour should shine light on recent finds.  In French.  By the way, the Musée Granet has a great room of archaeological finds from Entremont – statues, pottery, jewellery and so on.

And finally on Sunday, a great Provencal experience – a goat fair!  This annual event in Rognes is a family-friendly delight with lots of goats to pat, stalls with cheeses, local wines and products, animations for the little ones. Here’s the programme:  https://www.agendafromage.com/?voir=1680&m=agenda. Parking is best on the outskirts of the village.