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Les Deux Garcons: Three Little Surprises

June 5, 2021 by aixcentric

…have come from the work being done to renovate the burnt-out brasserie in Aix’s Cours Mirabeau. Continue Reading »

Posted in News, Patrimoine | 2 Comments »

Money-Off Vouchers for Locals and Holiday-makers

June 3, 2021 by aixcentric

Hotel Caumont in Aix is participating

The Bouches du Rhone tourist office has just launched a voucher scheme to help the local tourist industry; Tickets My Provence.

These vouchers can offset your bills at restaurants, museums, festivals and so on, whether you are a local or are on holiday.

To profit from 100 euros of vouchers:

  1.  Look at the list of partners on the website
  2. Enter your mobile number
  3. You will receive 100€ in ‘bons d’achats’ ie. 10 tickets of 10€, valid for a week
  4. For each 30€, you give a ticket of 10€ so you just pay 20€.

The scheme runs until the end of 2021.

Details and interactive map of participating organisations: https://www.myprovence.fr/tickets?utm_source=My+Provence&utm_campaign=d80328d05f-vacances-responsables-01-06-2021-tickets&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c72cda0555-d80328d05f-192001881&ct=t(vacances-responsables-01-06-2021-tickets)

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‘La Mer Imaginaire’ Features at a Real Paradise Island – Porquerolles

June 2, 2021 by aixcentric

For its fourth season, the Villa Carmignac presents The Imaginary Sea (La Mer imaginaire), an ideal subject for this idiosyncratic gallery:  part of it is housed in an old building with views to the sea below, while the other part is underground, a modern exhibition space beneath a glass-bottomed pool.  The water casts magical ripples across the gallery walls.

See a review from my visit in 2018; https://aixcentric.com/2018/09/20/fondation-carmignac-at-porquerolles-not-to-be-missed/

Visitors this summer will see works from its collection: Bruce Nauman’s fountain with a hundred bronze fish, Miquel Barceló’s subaqueous fresco and Jeff Koons’s sculpture of a lobster perched on a chair, among others.  Plus there are several loans of works by French and international artists such as Henri Matisse, Gilles Aillaud, Mathieu Mercier or Gabriel Orozco, complete the ensemble along with new productions by Bianca Bondi, Miquel Barceló, Lin May Saeed, Kate Newby and Hubert Duprat, which were created for this occasion.

It’s such a special place to visit.  The boat-ride over to the island itself is memorable as is the picturesque port.

The gallery is a short, 15 minute walk up from the landing stage.

Obviously pre-booking is necessary now under the new sanitary regulations, but it always was needed as only 50 people are admitted every half-hour.

Lots of details here: https://aixcentric.com/2018/09/20/visiting-porquerolles/

And after all that ‘Mer Imaginaire’, what nicer than to swim in the real sea at the nearby Plage Notre Dame, so often listed in ‘Europe’s Top Beaches’ articles.

Plage Notre-Dame, one of Europe’s top beaches…at Porquerolles

 

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Where to Watch Joutes… Provençal Water Jousting 

June 2, 2021 by aixcentric

Provençal water jousting consists of a battle on the water between two people in different boats – the opponents try to push each other in the water with a lance. Lots of fun for spectators, as well as the participants most of whom will end up pretty wet.

 

It’s an ideal outdoor spectator sport for those who prefer to remain in the fresh air as much as possible.

The programme, officialised by la Ligue Paca, kicks off on Sunday 13 June at Martigues when young people from across the region will have practice sessions.  The competition proper starts on 20th June at Cassis.  Details:

CRITÉRIUM NATIONAL DES JEUNES

13/06/21​ à Martigues

CHAMPIONNATS DE PROVENCE

20/06/21​ à Cassis

27/06/21 à Martigues

04/07/21 à La Ciotat

11/07/21​​ à Port-Saint-Louis

14/07/21​​ à Istres

18/07/21​ à Fos-sur-Mer

01/08/21 à l’Estaque

08/08/21 à Martigues (finales)

CHAMPIONNATS DE FRANCE

15/08/21 à Istres (quarts de finale)

22/08/21​​ à Théoule (demi-finales)

29/08/21​ à Saint-Mandrier (finales)

COUPE DE FRANCE

25/07/21 à l’Estaque

COUPE DE PROVENCE

05/09/21 à l’Estaque

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The Rhone Yields More Treasure

June 1, 2021 by aixcentric

Sometime around the year 340, a boat carrying gold coins, silver ingots, medals and other precious metals sank in 20m of water very close to its destination in Arles.  It was heading for one of 3 workshops in the Roman port to discharge its cargo.  The gold coins bore the head of the late emperor Constantine II and were to be melted down on the orders of his brother Constans I who preferred to have his own head on the coinage. Continue Reading »

Posted in News, Patrimoine | 2 Comments »

At the Cinema

May 29, 2021 by aixcentric

I read that there’s an avalanche of around 250 films ready to pour forth into French cinemas after they have been dark for so long; so a chance now to catch up with Oscar winners and nominees.

‘Nomadland’ which won three Oscars including best film has its premier on 6th June at 16.20 at the Renoir before being on general release from the 9th.

Also on show ‘Promising Young Woman’ and ‘The Father’.

Check them out:  https://www.lescinemasaixois.com/films/alaffiche

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Art in the Open: Puyloubier and Istres

May 29, 2021 by aixcentric

Wise communities are shifting their emphasis on to the outdoors this summer – here are two current shows you might enjoy. Continue Reading »

Posted in Art, Children, Miscellaneous, News, Patrimoine | Leave a Comment »

Marseille Airport News

May 28, 2021 by aixcentric

Aéroport de Marseille Provence.
Photos d’illustration.
© Claude Almodovar

Fancy a flight?  The management at Marseille Provence Airport certainly hope so as they are planning flights to 115 destinations this summer, with Ryanair servicing 51 routes once Morocco reopens.  All being well, they are hoping for 50% of their usual passenger numbers.

For UK followers, here are the British/Irish destinations:

Continue Reading »

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Sunday 23 May – Traffic-free Cycling by the Sea

May 22, 2021 by aixcentric

Bowling along on a bike by the Med sounds like heaven to me, especially when there’s no traffic!

That’s the offer tomorrow, 10h -18h, when 4 kilomètres of the Corniche, from Malmousque to David, plus l’Estaque Plage, will be open to walkers, skaters, and cyclists.  Lots of free sporting activities – things to try – and of course, food.

Food-trucks and ‘terrasses éphémères’

The trucks will be dishing up icecream, Breton and Mexican specialities, now there’s a choice, as well as burgers and bagels.

The pop-up terraces have been provided by ‘la Ville de Marseille’ as a free service to local restaurateurs and cafetiers.  What a good idea, especially right now.

Renting a bike

Click here for details; 1000 nouveaux vélos électriques en libre-service

Sorry for late notification but only just stumbled across this nice event.

 

 

 

Posted in Children, Event, Food | Leave a Comment »

Aix Food Markets: Your Personal Guide

May 22, 2021 by aixcentric

Provencal markets are renowned for their fresh, seasonable produce as well as their instagrammable beauty.

Continue Reading »

Posted in Food | 1 Comment »

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