AIX EN PROVENCE
Artists have been flocking to the South of France for decades. They set up shop in the region to be inspired by the light, landscapes, and lifestyle. Aix en Provence is a small town with much charm and artistic history, and, for one, Cézanne’s chosen spot for his love affair with Mont Sainte-Victoire that featured so often in his work.
VILLE DE CÉZANNE
WEBSITE: WWW.CEZANNE-EN-PROVENCE.COM
VISIT TIME: VARIOUS
Paul Cézanne’s spirit lives in Aix where you can visit his home, an atelier he built where he could paint with good light, the various restaurants and coffee shops he frequented (look out for the brass “C” on the pavement outside the establishments he was known to visit), all in the shadow of his wonderful Saint-Victoire. You can walk up to the hidden hilltop garden where he painted the mountain and see it as Cézanne did.
FONDATION VASARELY
WEBSITE: WWW.FONDATIONVASARELY.FR
VISIT TIME: 1 HOUR
In a state of slight disrepair (but ongoing renovation), Vasarely set up this foundation as a way to return something to his local adopted community (he is originally from Hungary). The space is constructed of hexagonal rooms, like a beehive, and houses large op-art wall murals made of carpet and painted tiles. The current administration has included displays on art and science, and local artists are invited to use the spaces to experiment with op-art, kinetic, and sound installations.
