The Paul Cézanne statue at the Rotonde in Aix is the work of Dutch sculptor Gabriël Sterk who not only produced it but also organized its funding: when I interviewed him at the time, he explained that he had recently moved to the town and couldn’t understand why there was …

The wonderfully creative Arlésien designer Christian Lacroix has been given free rein to choose items from the museums of Avignon for ‘Mirabilis’, the summer show. And ‘marvellous’ it surely will be: visitors can see 350 to 400 works, documents and collections, from prehistory to ethnic collections to modern art, in unusual groupings …

Marseille is the oldest town in France, so when you walk along by the Vieux Port, you are following in the footsteps of Greek fishermen, shopkeepers, sailors and traders who established their colony in 600 BC.  They, and the Romans who arrived later have left traces that emerge so often …

‘BACK TO THE FUTURE’ is the theme for the 49th Rencontres d’Arles photography exhibition. ‘This year, you are invited to cross space and time with a breathtaking, celestial journey across the ages. Photography is often the best-placed medium for registering all the shocks that remind us the world is changing, sometimes right …

Ce Gâteau de Pentecôte, très sucré est donc fait pour être partagé entre le plus de personnes possibles. Il est délicieux servi avec des fruits de saison bien juteux: fraises ou groseilles.
(This traditional cake is very sweet and meant to be shared among as many people as possible. It is delicious served with juicy seasonal fruits such as strawberries or red currants.)

“In your very comprehensive survey of Aix restaurants, I couldn’t find any mention of House of Cookies, rue Boulegon (but maybe it’s just my mistake!) It’s a lovely place, American vintage-oriented, and the owner, Laetitia, makes the best scones/muffins/ cookies/pancakes in Aix (she makes the cakes for Book in Bar!) You …

The Office du Tourisme at Gardanne is offering a day-trip to Monaco on Saturday 19th May.  It’s an early start, 7:15, but then it’s quite a drive.  Once there, there’s an organised trip round the Musée Océanographique and also the Palais Princier, followed by free time. 86 euros. Details on …

The new fraises garriguettes have arrived in Aix, and my goodness, are they good! Some years ago, La Provence published a recipe for a tiramisu with raspberries but I’ve found strawberries are just as delicious, and this is now a firm favourite. Tiramisu aux Fraises Ingredients: 250g strawberries, sliced 250g …

Having just returned to Aix after some weeks away, my second shock (after seeing the excavations in front of the Palais de Justice being filled in – inevitable I know) was to see the gaps in the Cours Mirabeau where plane trees had been. I had read about the ‘chancre …

Just announced, an exhibition of the work of Ai Weiwei, opening at MuCEM on June 20th in Marseille. Having seen his show at the Royal Academy in London last year, I expect it will be stimulating and baffling…but unmissable.  According to MuCEM, they will be adding objects from their permanent …