Ten minutes drive from the centre of Aix and we are in the countryside.  All around this town there are little villages where daily life seems a whole lot slower and simpler than its larger neighbour.  The stunning ‘travel book’ villages are further away and if you need a slice …

Provence is a rich environment for writers. Peter Mayle sparked a trend for books about Provence, but it’s fun to read fiction set locally. Mary Lou Longworth has penned a series of crime novels based in and around Aix. Starting with ‘Death at the Chateau Bremont’, she Explore this post. …

By aixcentric National Theatre Live’s thrilling broadcast of Frankenstein will be shown in Aix on Sunday 12th April. It’s the fourth in the series of special screenings organised by local American Karen Wildau who had to battle to find a venue for her venture. The programme is going well, she …

By aixcentric It was back in August 1961, a long-forgotten incident, and thanks to local historian Alain Paire for sending details of this fascinating story. The thieves climbed the garden walls then up the decorative ironwork of the façade to reach the first floor paintings. The town authorities were trying …

By aixcentric Did you see last year’s Aix Carnaval? It was an unforgettable experience as giant inflatable sea creatures floated down the Cours Mirabeau to the delight of the 20,000 onlookers. The town authorities have hired ‘Plasticiens Volants’ for this year’s carnaval too and the new theme will be ‘Le …

Which rosé? Are the whites any good? Can you find decent red wines? Does a wine list in Provence cause you to scratch your head? Sharon de Rham is a multilingual tour guide and expat (read her story here) she is also a wine aficionado. Sharon credits a colleague from …

By aixcentric The local petit-trains which have mostly been laid-up over the winter are coming back to our streets – good news for visitors with little ones or for elderly people or for those who want a whistle-stop tour with commentary. They really are a great idea. Here’s a Explore …

By aixcentric Now that the area around the Rotonde is sorted – and it does look lots better – the authorities have turned their attention to another large area ripe for regeneration: the places des Precheurs, Verdun and Madeleine as well as rue Thiers. There will be no more parking …

By aixcentric The new show for 2015 opened March 6th at the superb Carrieres de Lumieres. ‘Michaelangelo, Leonardo and Raphael, Giants of the Renaissance’ promises to be an eye-opener as the Sistine Chapel ceiling, the Mona Lisa, religious scenes and stunning portraits are beamed on to the walls. The setting …

The writing bug struck early. Karen Aldous says that she began writing as a girl and started her first novel in her twenties. Inspired by Provence and jolted into action by a family illness she is now the author of two books The Vineyard and The Chateau. Karen Aldous lives …