I hope everyone is enjoying their holiday preparations and we are certainly counting down the days to rejoin family and celebrate the best of the season– which thankfully involves a lot of fabulous cooking by my belle mère (mother-in-law). And let me tell you, these French mamans really go-to-town as far as the holiday eating is concerned. And I, for one, can’t wait to get my fork into her famous turkey stuffed with chestnuts… an annual favorite!
Last weekend we had the chance to visit Aix-en-Provence and the city was full of the Christmas spirit… showcasing many old & new traditions. I especially loved the huge crèche provençale on Cours Mirabeau that even featured a replica of one of Aix’s many fountains (photo below). And what would a Provençal nativity scene be without tiny “peasants” collecting lavender and harvesting olives? Really, this crèche was très très impressive.
And of course there were the windows of bûches & many other seasonal pastries that we can never pass up. They look more like works of art than simple desserts… and basically, I want them all!
I hope you enjoy these scenes from Christmas in Aix and wishing you & yours a very Joyeux Noël!
Belle Provence Travels 
Thank you so much for all you do to bring Provence into our lives…your images are captivating and the articles so informative and inviting. I started following your blog about a month before our early fall travel to France and found the information so helpful. Not only to learn about where to go and what to do, but how to relate to the French culture. We want to return and spend more time in each of the cities and towns in Provence….there just never seemed to be enough time to see it all and add time to relax and soak it all in. I was so amazed at the attention to detail in every nook and cranny. My photos are filled with the architectural wonders accented by the love of flowers and colored shutters. As an artist, I was so inspired by the textures…cobblestone streets, timbered buildings, tiled roofs, and the combination of flowers, vines and trees that created shadows for denoting the time of day. The colorful shop windows, the massive cathedrals, and beautiful countryside–serene pastures, rocky cliffs and winding rivers…..so many contrasting elements that brought excitement to every vista.
Thank you for creating a blog that brings us all even deeper into your world and entices your readers to visit, if they haven’t already, or return to see more, if they have.
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Thank you so much Pamela for your kind comment, you’ve certainly made my day. I think you will really love Provence and I hope you get the chance to visit someday soon. It sounds like you’ve already had some fantastic experiences in France and it’s hard to escape the “travel bug” here… it’s a place you want to return to over and over again… everything you’ve described captures the spirit perfectly!
Happy holidays and happy travels! Tuula
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There are so many sights to enjoy during the holidays. We have only spent the holidays in Provence one time and we didn’t make it to Aix. We will have to do the holidays there again soon. Thanks for sharing
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Hope you’re having a wonderful Christmas Michel… bonnes fêtes!
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