URBAN GUIDE

Aix never ceases to surprise us! This city with its 18th-century atmosphere hides many a garden behind its noble facades and the La Pioline château hotel, hidden away behind a modern commercial zone, welcomes us in like a quiet haven and history book combined.

Art inspired by place
Jean-Baptiste Gaubert got involved in this conversation between past and present, as he has done before at Château de Cabriès, in Marseille at the Docks des Suds and on the Vieux-Port (with the help of the Ballets de l’Europe), and even in Mumbai. Gaubert is an atypical creative who from very early on felt the subtle ties that unify the arts. Now an accomplished artist, it’s during performances, with musicians playing his rock and fusion compositions, that he improvises on his canvas as he dances. Colours, shapes and signs burst out like fireworks under his brush. It’s like action painting, dance and shamanism all in one. This summer you can see some of his works at the Château.

Immersed in history
17th-century façades, fine stables, a fountain with decorative basins, a 4ha park and a formal garden: among these stone walls and greenery Aix has the perfect venue for its ongoing dialogue with artists. Originally, back in the 15th century, the property was a mill beside the river Arc. In the 17th century the Marquis de Meyronnet, member of the Aix-en-Provence parliament, enlarged the main building and adorned the estate with sculptures by Jean-Pancrace Chastel; the lovely Louis XVI salon dates from that time. After suffering damage during the World War II, La Pioline was bought by antique dealers who saved the essentials. In 1976 it was listed as a historic monument and now (since 2011), under the management of Nicolas Desanti, it is a beautifully restored mansion offering hospitality, restaurant and bar in an ambience both aristocratic and friendly. The grounds, designed to host private events, seminars and business meetings, are equally ideal for casual visitors and seekers of the rare and precious.