By aixcentric There weren’t of course any cameras around in 18th century Rome, London or Venice but right now in Aix, we can get a fairly accurate view of what these cities looked like thanks to careful and colourful paintings by Antonio Canaletto. Although some of his work on show …

Contributor blog post by Aixcentric Our French teacher explained to us that a guinguette was typically a make-shift café-bar, usually next to water, with strings of lights and music and bushes pour aller flirter. They were dotted around Paris for instance for workers at the weekends and of course were …

Contributor blog post by Aixcentric: Starting with Marseille shops, the opening of Les Docks has been announced: 10th October. This is the long line of historical docks buildings that are opposite the new Terrasses du Port shopping centre. It’s taken 30 months to renovate the buildings and also excavate down …

Contributor blog post by aixcentric: Anyone who has been living in Aix for the past ten years will have witnessed the strong growth of restaurants in town, and specifically the increase in casual eating. La Provence recently reported that there are now nearly 700 places to eat in the commune …

By aixcentric We locals have been watching the ongoing work on the 300 year old mansion, the Hotel Caumont, for two years now as workmen repaired the roof, stonemasons worked on the ancient façade, and lorries drove in and out of what would be the garden area. Twenty million euros …

By aixcentric Have you seen the newly-razed ground next to the Rotonde where Cézanne has been left standing looking bemused and besieged by tourists wanting to pose with Aix’s famous son? I read that the town authorities are trying to decide what to do with the area. Well here’s an …

Contributor blog post by aixcentric: Celebrating 30 years of bringing contemporary dance to Aix, there is an exhibition of photography of the Ballet Preljocaj which is running until 20th September. There will be photos from the archives but also those taken by three photographers, one of whom is Jean-Claude Carbonne …

Contributor blog post by: Aixcentric This is the view as you drive over the rocky mountains towards the Mediterranean from the very eastern edge of Marseille. The breathtaking Calanque de Sormiou is the setting for ‘Le Chateau’ a family-run restaurant established back in 1948. To be able to drive down …

Joining the petits-trains services up to Notre-Dame de la Garde (1) and the Panier and MUCEM (2) is a new circuit which takes visitors around the Ile de Frioul (3). The petit-train picks people up from the ferry landing and does a tour of the island. Great idea …Continue reading …

By aixcentric What a great idea – 640 tonnes of sand to be dumped on the MUCEM esplanade to make a big beach for the summer. It will be open all day for walks, picnics at shaded tables, pétanque games, Ping-Pong and, on Sundays, dances. There will also be workshops …