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Architecture Tour

 

 

 

 

 

 

To the discovery of religious architecture

Aix-en-Provence / Ganagobie


Morning: Aix-en-Provence, visit the Saint-Sauveur Cathedral (a mixture of designs where alterations and additions have been made from the 5th century up to the 18th century) and the Saint-Jean de Malte church ( building from the 13th century, outside the city walls, which became in the 19th century the 5th largest parish in the town of Aix en Provence.

Free time for lunch.

Afternoon: visit of the Ganagobie Benedictine church. (a Roman church from the 12th century, the cloister from late 12th century, a remarkable portal altered in the 16th century, and inside precious roman mosaics decorated with geometric motives and fabulous figures)

Contempory Art in the Vineyards

Puyricard, Château La Coste


Château La Coste offers one-day events to discover contemporary art and architecture in the middle of the Provence countryside.

Morning: walk through woods, hills, the olive groves and vineyards of the estate to discover works of art and installations by internationally renowned artists and architects:

  • Tadao ANDO
  • Louise BOURGEOIS
  • Alexandre CALDER
  • Mac COILIN
  • Frank O. GEHRY
  • Liam GILLICK
  • Andy GOLDSWORTHY
  • GUGGI
  • Carsten HÖLLER
  • Paul MATISSE
  • Tatsuo MIYAJIMA
  • Jean NOUVEL
  • Jean Michel OTHONIEL
  • Jean PROUVÉ
  • Sean SCULLY
  • Richard SERRA
  • Tom SHANNON
  • Michael STIPE
  • Hiroshi SUGIMOTO
  • TUNGA
  • Franz WEST

The Art and Culture walk lasts for approximately 2 hours. Suitable footwear must be worn.

Lunch at the château

Afternoon: optional wine-tasting class.

Between Camargues and Alpilles, Medieval Art and Antique Art

Montmajour / Les Baux de Provence / Arles


Morning: visit to the Montmajour Abbey – from 9th century to 18th century ( warning:, many stairsteps to be climbed). Followed by a departure for the Baux de Provence, with free time to discover this delightful town

Free lunch in Les Baux

Afternoon: visit of Arles, the Saint Trophime church and its 12th century cloister.

Cistercian art in Provence

Silvacane / Gordes / Sénanques


Morning: after the visit of the Silvacane Abbey, one the 3 Cistercian abbeys situated in Provence, built at the beginning of the 12th century, departure with a guide to the Luberon through typical provencal villages as Lourmarin and Bonnieux.

Free time for lunch in Gordes, one of the most beautiful villages of the Luberon and then, discovery of the village.

Afternoon: visit of the 2nd Cistercian abbey : The Senanque Abbey – testimony of the monastic architecture of the 12th century that was founded in 1148 by monks who came from Mazan en Vivarais and that is still occupied by a small community of monks.

Bridges from Antique to Medieval Art

Avignon / Pont du Gard


Morning: departure for Avignon with a guide and visit of the Popes Palace – masterpiece of gothic architecture – mirror of the personality of 2 Popes : Benoit 12 and Clement 6 – and symbol of the papal grandeur of the 14th century. Then walk on the “Pont d’Avignon – or Pont St Benezet” originally built in wood in the 12th century.

Free Lunch in Avignon

Afternoon: stop at the Pont du Gard to admire this great Roman aqueduct built during the Augustan era, travelling on to Uzes, 1st dukedom of France with its beautiful Renaissance facade .

Past architecture, Future architecture

Marseilles


Morning: departure to Marseilles with a guide and visit of this famous city, with the renowned Notre Dame de la Garde basilica, a fine example of Byzantine influence, nicknamed “The good mother” by the people of Marseilles and the St Victor Abbey, a roman fortress dating from the 11th century with a crypt, some parts of which date from 5th century.

Lunch on the “Vieux Port”

Afternoon: tour of new urban landscapes opened for Marseille’s year as European Capital of Culture in 2013. Museums, concert and exhibition halls: contemporary architects, both Provençal and international, have designed new art and meeting venues in Marseille: after Zaha Hadid, Stefano Boeri, Kengo Kuma, Patrick Bouchain, Rudy Riccioti and Franck Gehry will design the contemporary architecture for the Capital and its lasting influence.