By aixcentric Just a quick call- out for Chez Jo, an institution in Aix. We popped in there for lunch last week on a bright sunny day but the mistral was blowing its chilly passage through the streets of centre ville. Not a day for lunching on the terrace. Inside …

By aixcentric In this week of commemoration, remembering those who perished at Auschwitz, it is fitting to honour those people, living and working in Aix, who helped save Jewish families, at great personal risk. They are designated ‘Juste parmi les Nations’. There are 25,000 worldwide, 3,700 in France and more …

Abbie Spencer would tell you that in her family photographs were treasures, and maybe that is why she has ended up in the industry. She would also say that travel and meeting people are her inspiration and crystallizing those moments in images is her mission. She describes the weather in …

Suppose you are visiting the super Raymond Dépardon photography show at MUCEM. In that case, there’s still time to cross the road to the delightful Musée Regards de Provence to catch the last weeks of Marseille Eternelle. You will be guaranteed a relaxing viewing of these colourful local paintings…a better …

By aixcentric Alan Ayckbourn is one of the UK’s most popular playwrights with over 70 plays to his name. And this weekend there is an opportunity to see one of them, direct from the National Theatre London, here in Aix. A Small Family Business tells the story of Jack McCracken, …

By aixcentric In search of a lunchtime snack today, I happened across Columbus Café which I hadn’t seen before. It has a good array of fresh salads, filled baguettes, and toasted paninis and bagels, plus muffins which they say are made on the premises. It was a perfectly good lunch …

Ok, I’m dreaming about Starbucks. I know I know…… I should never say such a thing like that when I’m in France surrounded by the highly sophisticated coffee drinking society of Aix. It starts early with a small black (ordered as un cafe, mainly served in a cup but sometimes …

By aixcentric The Hotel de Ville will be the starting place for a march remembering those who lost their lives in Paris this week; it will take place tomorrow, Sunday 11th, at 15:00. Please be aware that I have been told this verbally today by the staff; I have nothing in …

Author Patricia Sands has distinct memories of Provence from her days as a backpacker in 1967. She told me that she and a friend were travelling around on Eurail passes and meeting new friends as they camped and hiked the sentiers of Provence and the Côte d’Azur. Those joyful images …

Jill Steenhuis is an American artist who has lived just outside of Aix-en-Provence for 30 years. Jill paints en plein air (outside) the way Cezanne did much of his work. Inspired by this master painter and one of very few artists with access to Château Noir Jill agreed to share …