Aix-en-Provence: 5 good reasons to come to the Biennale

Through the freedom of its tone and the variety of formats it presents, the Biennale d’Aix attracts both art lovers, families, and the curious. Exhibitions, live shows, performances, encounters, screenings or wanderings all make up a plentiful programme, in which everyone can choose according to their wishes. For example, you can go from an open-air showing of Fantasio to an exhibition on Corto Maltese, and then continue the experience by participating in a collaborative fresco. The Biennale’s main strength is that it is highly accessible: most of the events are free, and the few paying events are inexpensive. Another good point is that the Biennale offers a rich programme which takes its time. The first spring part stretches from mid-April to mid-June, with something new every weekend and exhibitions which are installed for the whole season, and even until the autumn for the second part of the Biennale.

With the Biennale, Aix-en-Provence becomes a sensitive itinerary and turns its emblematic places into new stages for artistic expression. The chapels, for example, become genuine experimentation areas: a wind-based sound installation takes over the Chapelle Venel, while the Chapelle des Andrettes hosts a contemporary art exhibition. L’Eglisede la Madeleine hosts a choreographic and musical performance, creating an unusual echo between sacred architecture and living creation. Further on, the mineral landscape of the Bibémus quarries, which are strongly linked to Cézanne’s imaginary world, becomes the setting for an orchestra of young musicians. At the Fondation Vasarely, the presence of Andrea Laszlo De Simone offers another way of inhabiting this emblematic venue, and in the museums of Aix, the itinerary of works by Jeanne Vicerial weaves a contemporary fabric through her collections. A lovely way to appreciate the wealth of the local heritage!

By choosing Italy as the guest country, this 3rd edition of the Biennale d’Aix offers a real change of scene, without even leaving Provence! The presence of Italian artists lends a sunny and deeply Mediterranean atmosphere to the event. The journey begins with Corto Maltese, a mythical cartoon character born under the pen of Hugo Pratt, and then continues with a night- reading of a novel by Italo Calvino, a major 20th century Italian novelist. The Biennale also puts recognised or emerging artists, including Marino Parisotto, Alice Rohrwacher, Chiara Camoni and even Alessandro Sciarroni in the limelight. From literature to contemporary art, fashion photography and musical performances, this Italian invitation mixes many disciplines and gives the Biennale a spirit of openness, like a bridge between two neighbouring cities that share a taste for images, stories and beauty.

During the Biennale, the heart of Aix-en-Provence beats to the tempo of creation. Culture is not limited to the museums or theatres, but flows over into the streets, the squares, the quarters and even the landscapes around the town. This means that you can see an acrobatic show on the Cours Mirabeau, and then come across a street choreography in Avenue Mozart. The La Bouillonnante company invites you to leave the town on cycling-writing outings around Puyricard or on the banks of the Arc, while Place des Prêcheurs is transformed for a dance show. A pleasant way to discover the town and the surrounding area in a different way by naturally alternating public spaces, terraces, wandering around and artistic encounters.

When you come to the Biennale d’Aix, you’ve chosen one of the best moments to make the most of the Sud. On the edge of the high summer season, spring and autumn offer a more gentle and peaceful experience of Provence. In the spring, nature awakes, and the landscapes turn green and bloom under an enfolding light. In the autumn, the rhythm is slower, the temperature becomes more bearable after the heat of summer, and you feel more serene and ready for cultural escapades. Both seasons are ideal for exploring around Aix: walks in pine forests and hills, viewpoints from the heights of the Montagne Sainte-Victoire, cycle-touring on the little roads, discovering Provencal villages or breaks on terraces in the sun, without overheating. The Biennale then becomes an excellent excuse to make your stay even richer: an exhibition in the morning, a hike or visiting a wine estate in the afternoon, and why not end the day with dinner in the town.