Location: Aix-en-Provence
Top Things to do in Aix-en-Provence
10 Museums in Aix-en-Provence That You Shouldn't Miss
Aix, a graceful, lively city, is known for its thermal hot springs, art schools and universities. Wander the Cours, old town and Quartier Mazarin on foot, stopping at cafés, bookstores and markets. Kids whining? Have them count fountains… Aix reportedly has 1,000 of them.
Restaurants in Aix-en-Provence
1. OUVRAGE
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
ouvrage... is a Boutique Gallery highlighting only objects created and produced by French art craftsmen, artists and creators. We are looking for enthusiasts who work ethically from quality raw materials and in a manner respectful of human and environmental conditions.
2. Street Part
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 19 reviews
Street Part is a new concept of Art gallery. It is dedicated to urban arts and especially graffiti. Every week, a new artist is performing live painting on a mural fresco (2mx3m). This fresco is then divided and sold in several parts.
3. 361° Espace d'Art Contemporain
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 24 reviews
360° The concept is to swirl 360° within the thematics as in the disciplines, in the style as in the content. + 1° The invitation is to go even beyond : one-self, our knowledge, our interpretations, our codes… A Gallery located in the heart of Aix-en-Provence that presents a selection of living artists’ artworks in painting, photography, engraving, sculpture and design (…). A space of discovery, realisation and emotion. A Living Space around Contempory Art.
4. Chateau La Coste en Provence
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 957 reviews
Restaurant Vineyard Art and Architecture Walk Wine Tastings Open daily, all year round 10am-7pm.
Reviewed By 119lisettet - Paris, France
This beautiful wine chateau, that produces delicious wine as well, has made art the other center of attention. A great way to spend your day is roaming their grounds and end it with a nice glass!!
5. Site Memorial du Camp des Milles
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 498 reviews
Reviewed By SusanSnyc
We spent several hours at this memorial and educational exhibit housed in a former tile factory and used first by the French govenment and then by the Nazis and Vichy government as an interment camp from 1939 to 1942. We found the exhibit sobering and educational. We purchased the english audio guide which we found helpful, although it took a bit of experimenting to sync to the exhibit (especially to the introductory film.) It was worth the effort although there are few audio visual exhibits that do not have an english audio translation. There are also a few that are in english since the speakers are Americans who were interned there as children but who were able to escape or leave as part of a rescue effort. (Much of the text in the exhibit is presented both in french and in english.) We visited as a day trip from our summer hoilday stay in Aix-en-Provence and it was a quick trip by Uber or taxi. (It is closer than the train station to the city of Aix.) We visited on a Sunday when buses do not run, but we were told at the Aix tourist center that a bus is an easy way to get there and back. Leave plenty of time to visit all exhibits on the site including the permanent memorial to the over eleven thousand Jewish children who were deported from France to Aushwitz from 1940-1942, many from Les Milles. We wished that our adult and teen children had been with us on this trip to see this and recommend a visit to anyone visiting this part of France. A side note: We were two of a handful of visitors that day and it often felt like we were the only people in the building. We spoke to the helpful staff who said that they get visits from many school groups during the school year. Also, much of the building that houses exhibits is well air conditioned in the summer and heated in the winter, but the parts of the building that were used to house the prisoners have been left "as it was", so to experience at least some of the extreme conditions.
6. Hotel de Caumont - Art Centre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,567 reviews
Just a few steps from the Cours Mirabeau, a new Arts Centre is opening its doors in the Hotel de Caumont, a fully restored private mansion from the 18th century. Two major temporary exhibitions per year dedicated to great names in the history of art, as well as a diverse programme of events, makeCaumont a major cultural institution in Aix-en-Provence. The film > shown continuously every day in the auditorium presents the artist's journey and his passion for Aix-en-Provence and its region. The visit of the private mansion immerses you in the refined atmosphere of this exceptional venue, from the cour d'honneur to the gardens, passing through the historic rooms. The carefully furnished and decorated rooms reveal daily life at the time of Pauline, marquise de Caumont, one of the most famous owners of the mansion in the 18th century. The private gardens of the mansion, fully refurbished in the spirit of the site, offer over 1000 m² of peaceful space decorated with fountains,flowerbeds bordered by boxwood, and large vases of flowers.
Reviewed By Ambassador793931
outstanding venue, remarkable restoration, excellent exhibition (Thannhauser collection/The Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation NY), a small gem in the South of France
7. Site Granet XXe, Collection Jean Planque
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 150 reviews
Reviewed By westy54 - Sydney, Australia
The Musee Granet XXe is the second part of the Musee Granet and, in my opinion the better part. It is housed in a 17th century former Carmelite Chapel that has been totally gutted and refurbished specifically to hold the Jean Planque Collection of 20th century works which is on long term loan to the Musee Granet. The Musee Granet XXe opened in 2013. The Musee Granet XXe is about a five to seven minute walk from the main gallery building. The entry fee of EUR 6-00 per person to access the Musee Granet also includes access to the Musee Granet XXe. There is an English language audio guide available for EUR 3-00, but given our experience of how useless it was in the Musee Granet (lucky to have covered 2/3 paintings a room) we gave it a miss and found that unlike the Musee Granet, the Musee Granet XXe had an excellent four page English handout giving a description of the history of the museum, the background to the collection and details of what was on view in each area of the gallery. Also each individual painting had descriptions next to them in French and English and all of the larger information boards were also in French and English. Wish they would do the same in the main Musee Granet to make it more user friendly for non-French speakers! Jean Planque was a Swiss painter and art collector/dealer who became a personal friend of Pablo Picasso. He died in 1998. His collection of over 300 paintings, drawings and sculptures included works by Impressionists, post-Impressionists and major artists of the 20th century. Most of the Impressionist and post-Impressionist paintings including works by Renoir, Monet, Van Gogh, Cezanne, Degas, Gauguin and Bonnard amongst others are on the ground floor. Also on the ground floor are a significant number of Picasso's as well as works by Leger, Dufy and Auberjonois. On the first and second mezzanine levels (there is an elevator) are works by Planque himself, Dubuffet plus a number of others. What however, I found of most interest, were photographs taken of rooms in Planque's home which showed walls covered with these masterpieces just hanging side by side and one on top of the other. The artwork is well displayed and the lighting is excellent. Highly recommended.
8. Musee Granet
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 1,271 reviews
Named after famous local painter François Marius Granet, this museum houses a collection of French paintings from the 16th century on.
Reviewed By Sightsee52724
Wonderful buildings, great collections. Muse Granet first location in an old mansion had 12 Cezanne paintings; not disable friendly but lovely experience. Location 2 was Granet xx in an old converted church which was fantastic with an absolutely wonderful collection of Picasso paintings and other well known artists. Second building was fully wheelchair accessible. Well worth the visit, reasonable entrance fees and Aix is one of the most charming cities you could wish to visit.
9. Atelier de Cezanne
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 1,218 reviews
It is here, on the Lauves’ hill amid his dearest familiar objects: the models of his ultimate still lifes, his furniture and work equipment that you will feel the most intensely the full presence of the painter. From 1902 to his death in 1906, Cezanne works daily in this bright studio, the birthplace of dozens of works now preserved in the great museums of the world, among them the last Bathers. The studio has a gift shop, regularly hosts temporary exhibitions and organizes cultural and gastronomic gatherings during the season. Coffee break and refreshments on site.
Reviewed By habiogrady
You get to know Cezanne as if he was standing next to us showing us around his workshop, with all the still life models, the tools he used to paint the Montagne Sainte Victoire which will lead him to create the master pieces we are familiar with today. It is the second time I visit. I will go back again as soon as I am around Aix en Provence. A unique expérience.
10. Cinema Mazarin
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