House / Gardens Sights in Aix-en-Provence — 4 of Our Favourites

Built on the orders of Louis Mercoeur Duke of Vendôme to house his passionate love affair with Lucretia de Forbin Solliès called "Belle of Canet." Surrounded by a magnificent French garden, the main facade is superimposed the three classical orders and is decorated with unique Baroque Atlanteans, garlands of fruit and a mask that would, they say, the features of the Belle of Canet.
The collections consist of many portraits of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and Provencal furniture. Since 1990, the Pavillon has hosted many modern and contemporary art exhibitions. Guided tours are available, and the garden is open to the public all year.

The building, attached to a large clock tower, houses the portraits of many Counts of Provence and Kings of France.

The fountain in the square outside was built in 1755 and is topped with a Roman column. It acts as the centrepiece to the square where many people come to the market or just to watch the world go by.

The granary is a large and imposing building which was built in 1754 and has a large triangular-framed carving depicting a man and a woman who signify the Durance and Rhone rivers and the benefits of their life giving waters.

The square is home to a few cafes and restaurants making it a nice spot to stop off for a coffee or a bite to eat.

Cezanne was prolific in his compositions whilst here and some of his best loved painting were completed here.

In 1994, the last owner, André Corsy, sold the property to the City, subject to usufruct, with the exception of the farm. Since late 2002, the mansion and park, classified historic monument, are property of the City of Aix-en-Provence.

In the large oval room on the ground floor Cézanne painted directly on the walls between 1860 and 1870, 12 large spare compositions from 1912. Since May 2006, a multimedia design shows on the walls the works of Cézanne.

Only guided tours are available (at specific times in English) so check with the tourist office and book in advance.

It has been preserved as a public space thanks to its amazing views of the Montagne Sainte Victoire and that artist Paul Cézanne often painted here in the latter part of his life.

You can walk up the path to a view point that overlooks the surrounding countryside and mountains and take a look a reproductions of famous paintings that were created here, a little like an open air museum.

For those who want to extend the walk, it is possible to reach the Oppidum d'Entremont, located about 1 km, through the path Chemin de la Marguerite.

The Oppidum d'Entremont is one of the most beautiful pre-Roman settlement in Provence, which sheltered a Salyens community, Celto-Ligurians who had settled here before the Romans arrived.