Contributor blog post by Aixcentric: On Sunday, January 21, 2:30 at the Renaissance Hotel, there will be a broadcast of Stephen Sondheim’s ‘Follies’. The production had terrific reviews when it showed at London’s National Theatre. Here is a short video trailer of the show: “Setting the Stage”: It’s New York, 1971. There’s a …

Contributor blog post by Aixcentric: ‘Cézanne at Home’ and a retrospective of the painter Tal Coat have recently opened at the Musée Granet, both worth a visit. ‘No painting by Cézanne will ever enter this museum’, proclaimed Henri Pontier who was curator in 1900.His attitude is made even worse by …

Contributor blog post by Aixcentric: If you’re in Provence, you will probably have already bought your little pack of seeds to plant today to mark the feast of Saint Barbara (Sainte-Barbe), and hopefully with some warmth and sunshine, they will be ready for Christmas. The local saying is: Quand le blé …

Contributor blog post by Aixcentric: A bit shocking to come back to Aix and find two burger bars about to open in town, one each end of the Cours Mirabeau! ‘J’aimerais qu’ils aillent ailleurs’, said Mayor Marysse Joissans, but they must have had a green light as ‘Five Guys’ opens in …

This beautiful vineyard at Les Arcs-sur-Argens is a must-visit, not just for its natural beauty and acclaimed wines, but also for the outstanding Chapelle Sainte-Rosaline in the grounds. It not only contains artistic gems (Giacometti and Chagall), but also the 680-year old body of the saint herself, reposing in the nave …

Contributor blog post by Aixcentric: Cézanne finds himself marooned between the Foire aux Santons and woolly jumpers at the textile market. It seems strange having the Aix-en-Provence Christmas markets starting up against such a bright blue sky and warm sun, but there we are – the chalets are built and the children’s …

Contributor blog post by Aixcentric: This is a huge celebration of the linkages between Pablo Picasso and the Mediterranean region with exhibitions already organised in Naples, Rabat, Malaga, Perpignan, Venice, and lots in the pipeline. Here in Provence, these are the forthcoming exhibitions in the programme: Picasso et Maitres Espagnol Carrieres …

Contributor blog post by Aixcentric: As the current annual son-et-lumiere show at the Carrieres de Lumieres in Les Baux de Provence draws to a close, (Bosch, Breughel, Arcimboldo ends Jan 7th, it’s always interesting to see what is next on the agenda. And the theme for 2018 is…Picasso et les Maitres …

The number of local farmers producing saffron in Provence is increasing – it used to be widely grown in the south of France, but phylloxera wiped it out early in the last century – so it is good to see that it is being produced once more. Harvesting is an …

Contributor blog post by Aixcentric; The Tour de France 2018 race will take place 7 – 29th July and the route has just been announced: not very good for Provence this time round but I suppose we have been spoiled in the past; and there will be a F1 Grand …