Contributor blog post by Aixcentric: My new book “Art in the South of France: The Inside Story” is being launched this week. It is a journey across from ancient sun-drenched Arles through Saint-Tropez and Saint Paul-de-Vence to the Italianate beauty of Menton, following the artists who flocked south to the area …

Contributor blog post by Aixcentric: It was Renoir’s birthday on February 25th, which has prompted me to write a little about his final home at Cagnes-sur-Mer, now the Musée Renoir. It’s easily do-able from Aix and a must once this wave of cold weather has ended. A sunny day is ideal as …

Contributor blog post by Aixcentric: Here is another good reason to visit Toulon! A reconstruction of the L’Hermione, the historic ship in which the Marquis de la Lafayette crossed the Atlantic to support Americans fighting for independence, will be in the port of Toulon from 5-8th April. I understand that tickets …

Contributor blog post by Aixcentric: It was a surprise when ‘Happy Days’, the café in the corner of Place Richelme was demolished before Christmas; it always seemed busy. But now Le Petit Bistrot is in its place and it is a delightful place to have a petit dej’, coffee or …

Contributor blog post by Aixcentric: Two exhibitions are now open in Marseille, both dedicated to Picasso, as part of the ‘Picasso-Méditerranée 2017-2019′ cultural programme. (These join the other Picasso-orientated shows which I list further down this post.) ‘Picasso et Les Ballets Russes, entre Italie et Espagne’ focuses on four productions …

Just opened, and with perfect timing to catch the wave of ‘Quel Amour’, the new exhibition at Marseille’s Musée Regards de Provence illustrates the relationship between the artist and his or her muse. “The modern muse has this irresistible faculty to appeal to the artist and often to his heart, …

Contributor blog post by Aixcentric: What a mess the town centre is right now what with the travaux for the new bus route and the simultaneous archaeological dig and renovations at the Place des Precheurs. But then no pain no gain…no omelettes without breaking eggs, and all that good stuff.The bus …

The new ‘Quel Amour’ programme launched on 14th February and runs until September 1, 2018. This is the 7-month cultural extravaganza planned by the MP2018 committee who were inspired by the European Year of Culture back in 2013 which did so much to galvanise the arts scene in Marseille-Provence. Continue …

Provence. Its powerful image enchants people worldwide, and many, inspired by the wonderful Peter Mayle, actually come to live here; and, inspired by A Year in Provence, decide that they have a story to tell. Most are remarkably different. Some arrive to transform crumbling chateaux with either lot of money …

Contributor blog post by Aixcentric: Looks like the 3-year renovation at Piscine Yves Blanc is going well and that the pool will re-open in September 2018 (yay!). The main work of enlarging the pools and developing changing rooms and offices is done; now it’s over to the plumbers, electricians and tilers. …