Treasure Hunt in Aix en Provence in a Small Group
Overview
I am passionate about history and Aix en Provence. I offer you a treasure hunt that will make you discover the historic center of Aix en Provence. It's a historic tour with a little treasure at the end.
Inclusions
- Little treasure
What to expect
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Hotel de Caumont - Art Centre, 3 rue Joseph Cabassol, 13100, Aix-en-Provence France
The Hôtel de Caumont is located in an aristocratic district of the old town of Aix-en-Provence, the Mazarin district. Of Parisian influence, it is a hotel "between courtyard and garden", an architectural scheme that appeared in Paris in the 16th century, which, reported on an urban scale, corresponds to the castle and its park.
This type of construction "between courtyard and garden" disappeared in 1680 in Aix-en-Provence, favoring the construction of hotels on the street to stand out from the Parisian style. The portals are then more decorated in a baroque tendency characteristic of southern taste.
By the scale of its design without equivalent in Aix-en-Provence, it represents a sample of French architecture of the 18th century. For their quality, the carriage gate, the facade and the wrought iron stair railing were listed in the additional inventory of Historic Monuments in 1925. The entire hotel was listed in 1987.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Fontaine des Quatre-Dauphins, Place des Quatre-Dauphins, 13100, Aix-en-Provence France
The fountain in the center of the square, the work of the sculptor Jean-Claude Rambot in 1667, represents four "architectural dolphins" surrounding a pyramid which was originally crowned by a statue of Saint Michael. The statue was successively replaced by a fleur-de-lis, a Maltese cross, then a pinecone.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Eglise Saint-Jean-de-Malte, 24 rue d Italie, 13100, Aix-en-Provence France
Among the paintings exhibited in the church, Delacroix's Crucifixion is the one that attracts the most visitors. Several stained glass windows are inside. The stained glass window dating from 1854 has the Baptism of Christ as its main theme.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Cathedrale St. Sauveur, Place des Martyrs de la Resistance, Aix-en-Provence France
The cathedral is located on the route of the old via Aurelia. A fragment of Roman wall as well as the columns of the baptistery seem to have forged the legend according to which Saint-Sauveur was erected on the site of an ancient temple dedicated to Apollo. Historian Pitton (1654) claimed that this temple was dedicated to a solar deity, relying on the discovery of a statue with an uncovered thigh to substantiate his claims.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Pavillon de Vendome, 13 rue de la Molle, 13100, Aix-en-Provence France
The Pavillon de Vendôme, the most seductive follies inherited from the Grand Siècle, was built by order of Louis de Mercoeur, Duke of Vendôme to house his passionate love affair with Lucrèce de Forbin Solliès, known as “la Belle du Canet”. Surrounded by a sumptuous French garden, the main facade of the pavilion superimposes the three classical orders and is adorned with superb Baroque atlantes, garlands of fruit and a mascaron which is said to have the features of the Beauty of the Canet.
Duration: 15 minutes
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Hotel de Caumont - Art Centre, 3 rue Joseph Cabassol, 13100, Aix-en-Provence France
The Hôtel de Caumont is located in an aristocratic district of the old town of Aix-en-Provence, the Mazarin district. Of Parisian influence, it is a hotel "between courtyard and garden", an architectural scheme that appeared in Paris in the 16th century, which, reported on an urban scale, corresponds to the castle and its park.
This type of construction "between courtyard and garden" disappeared in 1680 in Aix-en-Provence, favoring the construction of hotels on the street to stand out from the Parisian style. The portals are then more decorated in a baroque tendency characteristic of southern taste.
By the scale of its design without equivalent in Aix-en-Provence, it represents a sample of French architecture of the 18th century. For their quality, the carriage gate, the facade and the wrought iron stair railing were listed in the additional inventory of Historic Monuments in 1925. The entire hotel was listed in 1987.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Fontaine des Quatre-Dauphins, Place des Quatre-Dauphins, 13100, Aix-en-Provence France
The fountain in the center of the square, the work of the sculptor Jean-Claude Rambot in 1667, represents four "architectural dolphins" surrounding a pyramid which was originally crowned by a statue of Saint Michael. The statue was successively replaced by a fleur-de-lis, a Maltese cross, then a pinecone.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Eglise Saint-Jean-de-Malte, 24 rue d Italie, 13100, Aix-en-Provence France
Among the paintings exhibited in the church, Delacroix's Crucifixion is the one that attracts the most visitors. Several stained glass windows are inside. The stained glass window dating from 1854 has the Baptism of Christ as its main theme.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Cathedrale St. Sauveur, Place des Martyrs de la Resistance, Aix-en-Provence France
The cathedral is located on the route of the old via Aurelia. A fragment of Roman wall as well as the columns of the baptistery seem to have forged the legend according to which Saint-Sauveur was erected on the site of an ancient temple dedicated to Apollo. Historian Pitton (1654) claimed that this temple was dedicated to a solar deity, relying on the discovery of a statue with an uncovered thigh to substantiate his claims.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Pavillon de Vendome, 13 rue de la Molle, 13100, Aix-en-Provence France
The Pavillon de Vendôme, the most seductive follies inherited from the Grand Siècle, was built by order of Louis de Mercoeur, Duke of Vendôme to house his passionate love affair with Lucrèce de Forbin Solliès, known as “la Belle du Canet”. Surrounded by a sumptuous French garden, the main facade of the pavilion superimposes the three classical orders and is adorned with superb Baroque atlantes, garlands of fruit and a mascaron which is said to have the features of the Beauty of the Canet.
Duration: 15 minutes
Additional information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- Social distancing enforced throughout experience
- Guides required to regularly wash hands
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travelers
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Ticket delivery
You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start time of the experience.
Travel322865
July 2022
The treasure hunt in Aix en Provence was so much fun not just for me as an adult but also for my two young daughters. The clues were easy to follow and the description made by Édouard of each place we stopped at made the experience so much richer. Thank you Édouard for such an amazing experience....
The treasure hunt in Aix en Provence was so much fun not just for me as an adult but also for my two young daughters. The clues were easy to follow and the description made by Édouard of each place we stopped at made the experience so much richer. Thank you Édouard for such an amazing experience. Your love for this city and your knowledge of it all made us appreciate Aix even more!