Easter Sunday Mass was celebrated at ‘La grotte de Sainte-Baume’ at the weekend to formally re-open the cave of Saint Mary Magdalene after its being closed for 10 months’ work. (more…)
Archive for the ‘Miscellaneous’ Category
Now Re-opened: Mary Magdalene’s Cave
Posted in Miscellaneous, News, Patrimoine on April 6, 2021| Leave a Comment »
PNU – Walk/Cycle Path in Aix Developing
Posted in Miscellaneous, News, Patrimoine on April 6, 2021| Leave a Comment »
Arles on TV
Posted in Miscellaneous on March 25, 2021| 2 Comments »
Caesar’s head was in the Rhone
…tonight. Just discovered that Le Tresor du Rhone is on France 5 at 20:50. (more…)
Free Daily Concert
Posted in Miscellaneous on March 25, 2021| Leave a Comment »
…is all yours from Aix’s Festival de Paques which takes place annually at the Grand Theatre de Provence and other venues in town. Every evening at 20:30, from Saturday 27th March to 21st April. An Easter treat!
Programme here: https://festivalpaques.com/en
Bull Escapes in Arles
Posted in Miscellaneous on March 25, 2021| 4 Comments »
High drama in Arles on Tuesday during a photo-shoot at the Roman Arena when three bulls got seriously spooked. (more…)
It’s Spring in Aix – the Statues Turn
Posted in Miscellaneous, Patrimoine on March 23, 2021| 2 Comments »
Only just realised, after 18 years in Aix, that it’s actually someone’s job to clamber up narrow staircases and reach across the void inside the Tour de l’Horloge to manoeuvre the 4 statues round every 3 months when the season changes. (more…)
Egg Hunt for Children in Aix
Posted in Miscellaneous on March 22, 2021| Leave a Comment »
Who has stolen Josette’s eggs?
That’s the Easter challenge for 2-10 year olds who, armed with a map from the tourist office, can follow 3 trails round the shop-windows in centre ville to find the 3 thieves. Prizes to be won! Until 4th April.
New at Chateau Lacoste
Posted in Miscellaneous on March 22, 2021| Leave a Comment »
If like me, you haven’t been out to Chateau Lacoste during the pandemic, here are some of the items that have been added to their artwork trail. As regulars will know, this beautiful domaine which stretches across 200 hectares is an outstanding place for a walk in the fresh air. Tickets are 15€ and you are given an explanatory leaflet with a map to take you round the 37 exhibits.
« The marriage of New York and Athens » by Frank Gehry and Tony Berlant 2019
« Circle of Riverstones » by Richard Long 2019
« Wish Trees » Yoko Ono 2019 – no photo
« Schism » by Conrad Shawcross 2020
« Drawing gallery « Richard Rogers 2020
Sampling the High Life in Cavaillon
Posted in Miscellaneous on March 5, 2021| 2 Comments »
‘It certainly had some scary moments.’ That was le Fils Aixcentric’s take on the Via Ferrata at Cavaillon , even though he’s tried them 
out in the Alps. Meaning ‘iron way’, a Via Ferrata is a series of scrambles along the mountainside linked by metal ladders, hand-holds, bridges and ropes.
The Provencal one has two loops, one of which goes through a tunnel tight enough to necessitate taking a rucksack off. According to le Fils Aixcentric, just the first parcours is suitable for children over 10, as they need to be a certain height in order to reach hand-holds and so on. Adults can use both. ‘It’s interesting with nice plants along the way; but certainly a physical and mental challenge’. It’s free to use but there are charges for renting the safety harnesses and equipment that are needed.
Interestingly, it is the only one in Europe accessible on foot from a town centre, in this case the tourist office of Cavaillon. Details and 3 min film here:
https://www.luberoncoeurdeprovence.com/bouger/la-via-ferrata-de-cavaillon
Van Gogh Works for Sale
Posted in Miscellaneous, News, Patrimoine on February 28, 2021| Leave a Comment »
It was a snowy February in 1888, when Vincent Van Gogh left Paris to settle in Arles: he hoped to enjoy an idyll of colourful nature in
the south, but brought with him his fascination for Japanese culture and its distinctive artistic style.
He couldn’t afford sitters so used to paint his neighbours; and it is a drawing of a young girl from Arles that is going on sale tomorrow at Christies in New York. ‘La Mousmé is’, he wrote to his brother Theo, ‘a Japanese girl – Provencal in this case’.
It’s expected to fetch 7-10 million dollars.
Also for sale, ‘Scene de rue a Montmartre‘ which he painted before leaving Paris. It has been owned by the same family since 1920 so not seen in public for a hundred years. It goes on sale at Sotheby’s on March 25th. Thanks to Julia for this info.
Vincent van Gogh’s Scène de rue à Montmartre/Montmartre Street Scene (Impasse des Deux Frères et le Moulin à Poivre) (February-April 1887) Courtesy of Sotheby’s/ArtDigital Studio
Art in the South of France; the inside story
The South of France. Enchanted by the deep blue of the Mediterranean, the olive trees, poppies, irises and that dazzling light, artists found their creativity flourished under the hot sun. My new book takes you on a journey visiting museums and galleries as well as artists’ studios and their favourite painting spots. From Van Gogh in Arles, to Signac in Saint-Tropez; from Cézanne in Aix, over to Nice for Renoir and Matisse, the story unfolds of artists who knew each other and painted together in the warm south. Prepare too to meet colourful local artists who captured their beloved Provence for us to enjoy.
Buy: in Book-in-Bar, Aix, or online. Please click here: /art-in-the-south-of-france-the-inside-story/paperback/product-23586102.html
Aix-en-Provence The Inside Story
My first book tells the story of this fascinating town and introduces .some of the characters who have lived here. With a focus on people rather than buildings, history is unravelled through anecdotes with lots of suggestions of what to see when you visit. Available from lulu.com - /aix-en-provence-the-inside-story
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