By aixcentric It cost 73 million euros and its stated purpose was to provide a focal point for meetings, conferences, films and exhibitions on matters Mediterranean; but it’s now been revealed that the upkeep and running costs for the Villa Mediterranée were 4.4 million euros last year, paid by the …

By aixcentric Cassis is not only a beautiful little town, but they have a switched-on tourist office who are not afraid of doing some proactive marketing. They have mapped out all their activities for the coming year which is such a help for holiday-makers and locals with visitors. For instance …

By aixcentric It really is the best time to hit the coast. You can drive there! You can park! Enjoy empty beaches, restaurants and art gallery! In fact this photo shows the world-famous celeb-magnet Pampelonne Beach last week…not a footballer, WAG or starlet in sight. Just us, Explore this Post …

By aixcentric On the theme of helping people escape during the Occupation, here is a thrilling account of the experience of a Church of Scotland minister, Donald Caskie, who at great personal risk saved around 2000 Allied soldiers, sailors and airmen. He had been the minister at the Scots Kirk …

By aixcentric Lots of sales going on at the moment across France, but the most unusual must be the massive auction of items from the famous, glittering Hotel de Paris in Monaco. As part of its renovation project, they will be selling off all manner of items Explore this Post …

By aixcentric If like me you enjoy browsing in Book In Bar and appreciate their wide and thoughtful choice of books in English, spare a thought for them at the moment. Rue Joseph Cabassol is being re-paved plus there are major works ongoing to transform the Hotel Caumont opposite into …

By aixcentric It’s our annual opportunity to see films we have missed during the past year – Télérama magazine picks out the 14 they think were the best during 2014. Each will be shown once, either at the Renoir or Mazarin, from 21-27th January. If you clip the coupon out …

By aixcentric 2015 will see the production of ‘Les Insépérables’, a film on the early lives of Paul Cézanne and Emile Zola who famously met at school in Aix. Cézanne will be played by Guillaume Gallienne and Zola by Guillaume Canet when shooting starts in September. Filming will take place …

By aixcentric What a wonderful subject for next year’s show at the Carrieres de Lumieres. ‘Leonardo de Vinci, Michel-Ange, Raphael: Les Géants de la Renaissance’ takes the visitor on a journey starting in Milan. It then goes to Florence where Raphael and Leonardo were painting portraits and Madonnas, then to …

By aixcentric Happy New Year to all! And it’s good to start 2015 on a positive note: it looks like there is some movement, at last, to restore the bastide that was home to the Cezanne family for 4 decades. Paul Cezanne’s father built the artist a studio on the …