Entertainment

A cultural treasure trove, Aix-en-Provence has a number of places dedicated to art and painting in particular. Cezanne, the painter and eulogist of the magnificent Sainte-Victoire Mountain, is one of the most frequently celebrated. The town's natural beauty and its cultural heritage are also on display in numerous places including the cite du Roi Rene, whose opera targets an international audience. The nightlife, which attracts a large student population, is also rich and diverse: there are cinemas, theaters, music and dance shows and nightclubs. In Aix, sports are a very prized activity. There are also several amusement parks scattered around the town, offering other open-air activities.

Fine Art

In addition to the architectural treasures that make it one big open-air museum, Aix-en-Provence boasts numerous and varied spaces dedicated to painting and to the visual arts in general.

Named after Aix-en-Provence's own François Marius Granet, a 19th-century painter who donated many works to the museum, the Musee Granet (Granet Museum) contains major French 16th-20th century paintings. Among the collection's most important works are eight Cezannes depicting the Sainte-Victoire (a nearby mountain) from different angles and in various lights. Tapestry connoisseurs will appreciate the Musee des Tapisseries (Tapestry Museum) located on the Place des Martyrs de la Resistance, on the first floor of the Archbishop's palace. Here a permanent collection of 17th- and 18th-century works shares space with contemporary textile exhibits. Situated in a splendid 17th-century mansion, the Musee du Vieil Aix (Museum of Old Aix-en-Provence) counts among its collections a variety of objects related to local history and rural life: furniture, clothing, nativity figures, and china are on display, as are canvases from the Provençal School. Typical of the movement led by painter and Ecole des Beaux-Arts (School of Fine Arts) director Emile Loubon (1809-1863), the latter are mainly landscapes painted in the region. Located on the Cours Mirabeau, the art gallery of the Conseil General (Regional Council) promotes past and present local artists through thematic and historic exhibitions.

Head north out of town to visit Cezanne's studio, where works of the great master from Aix-en-Provence are displayed in their authentic setting. Cezanne's workspace has been meticulously preserved, and the visit can be quite moving: you almost expect the artist himself to show up!

The Fondation Vasarely features painting and architecture by the Hungarian artist of the same name. Vasarely was particularly fond of optical illusions. The museum is located between Aix-en-Provence and Marseilles.

Nature and Science

The unique collection of the Musee d'Histoire Naturelle (Museum of Natural History), taken mainly from digs around the nearby Sainte-Victoire mountain, can be found inside the magnificent Hôtel Boyer d'Eguilles. Exhibits include fossils of dinosaurs, fish and insects.

A major archaeological site four kilometres north of Aix-en-Provence, the Entremont Oppidum sheds light on the organization of the Celto-Ligurian civilization that occupied the region until the Romans came in 122 B.C.

The Ecomusee de la Forêt south of Aix-en-Provence was founded in the early 1990s. This museum promotes protection of Mediterranean forests through a visit that is both amusing and instructive.

Other places of cultural interest

The Cite du Livre (Center for Books) features various arts including literature and video.

In an effort to promote renovation of historic façades in central Aix-en-Provence, the Atelier du Patrimoine (Heritage Workshop) hosts lectures and conferences for professionals and the public.

The town of Les Milles, just south of Aix-en-Provence, is home to the Memorial des Milles. The Memorial sits on the site of a World War II deportation camp, which was set up in a former tile factory.

Film

The cinematic capital of Provence must be Aix-en-Provence, whose nine-screen Cezanne Complex (near the Place de la Rotonde) hosts numerous sneak previews of upcoming releases. Those seeking art house retrospectives or subtitled versions of foreign films should head for the pedestrian area off the Cours Mirabeau, where the Mazarin holds frequent festivals devoted to greats like Welles, Kubrick and Almodóvar. Finally, the Renoir screens mainstream films including movies for children.

Music

Every summer since 1948, classical-music fans from around the globe have come to Aix-en-Provence for the Festival d'Art Lyrique (Poetry Festival), held in the lovely courtyard of the former Archbishop's palace on the Place des Martyrs de la Resistance. This festival's lavish productions feature opera's greatest voices Anne-Sofie Otter, Anthony Rolfe-Johnson singing everything from Mozart to Monteverdi under starry skies.

The Aix Jazz Festival programs well-known jazz virtuosi each year.

Rock fans can check out local talent at Le Bistrot Aixois and L'Olive à Bulles.

Clubs, Shows

Live music can be heard throughout the historic center's pedestrian streets at Le Scat-Club, or, for the jazz fan, at Hot Brass to the north of town.

For more intense nighttime activities, Aix-en-Provence offers plenty of trendy clubs. These include Le Mistral near the Cours Mirabeau, a legendary spot for seeing and being seen; the popular Key Night , which features new music and regularly hosts student nights; and, for those who prefer drag and strip shows, techno music and pickup scenes, try Happy Days. Traditional cabaret-style dinner shows, high quality and fun, can be found at Le Jogging Rose.

Dance & Theater

The best in modern dance has recently found a home in Aix-en-Provence thanks to the opening of the Ballet Prejlocaj in the Cite du Livre (Center for Books).

The diversity of the city's theater scene bears witness to its cultural open-mindedness and international attitude. From new plays at the Theâtre Antoine Vitez to comedy at the city center's Fontaine d'Argent to the eclectic Parisian "hipness" of the Theâtre des Ateliers, the stage is well-served in Aix-en-Provence. Outside town but not to be missed is La Fonderie, which features the authentic language and cerebral wit of regional artists in a cafe-theater-restaurant setting.

Sports

Exercise-seeking Aixois (Aix residents) frequent health clubs like Gym-Concept and Axium, while thrill-seekers may prefer the Megaglace skating rink. Finally, various university sports facilities like stadiums, swimming pools, tracks, etc. are open to the public for a nominal fee.

Amusements

The region's theme parks are mainly centered around the city of Aix-en-Provence: water buffs will enjoy Aquacity, twelve kilometers to the south on the road to Marseilles; OK Corral in Cuges-les-Pins, eighteen kilometers east of Aix-en-Provence, features western themes, open spaces and general "American" ambience. The Zoo de la Barben, meanwhile, located in the town of the same name, offers a natural setting and a great variety of animal species.