The Aix-en-Provence Opera Festival:
Music in a mediterranean setting

• Unpack for a long-stay tour with 10 nights in the centre of Aix, just minutes from Festival venues

• Delight in a diverse program of 7 performances, including five fully-staged operas and solo recitals

• Discover historic venues, including the courtyard of the Archbishop’s Palace and the eighteenth-century Jeu de Paume Theatre, as well as the modern Grand Théâtre

• Traverse the charming streetscapes of Aix, the seat of the rulers of medieval Provence

• Follow in the footsteps of Paul Cézanne and other painters

• Explore historical Arles, and visit areas of outstanding natural beauty such as the Luberon and the Calanques near Cassis

THURSDAY 10 JULY – ARRIVAL IN AIX (Canapés)

Group members arrive during the day. As well as private transfers, there are regular coach services from both Marseille airport and the Aix-en-Provence TGV station, which is located outside the town. In the early evening, meet your fellow tour participants, the tour leader and tour manager for drinks and canapés in the Aquabella Hotel.

FRIDAY 11 JULY – IN AIX – PERFORMANCE 1 (B, L)

This morning, a local guide orients us to the history and architecture of Aix. We stroll along the elegant Cours Mirabeau, often described as one of Europe’s most beautiful boulevards, appreciating the fine, aristocratic mansions and public spaces which adorn the city. After a welcome lunch in a local restaurant, the early afternoon is free to relax before a talk on this evening’s performance, followed later by the performance itself. Each year, the Festival presents at least one spectacular performance in an unusual venue such as the Théâtre de l’Archevêché. The courtyard of the archbishop’s palace has been converted into a fully-equipped theatre, with open-air performances beginning at 9.30pm, after sunset. We might enjoy a production in this venue tonight. Afterwards, we discuss our impressions over drinks in our hotel.

Performance details
Venue: TBA
Program: TBA
Performers: TBA

SATURDAY 12 JULY – HÔTEL DE CAUMONT – PERFORMANCE 2 (B, L)

This morning, we visit one of the most prestigious historic residences in Aix. The eighteenth-century Hôtel de Caumont, located just off Cours Mirabeau, is approached through a Cour d’Honneur and boasts more than 1,000 square metres of private gardens. Today, most of the building functions as an art gallery, hosting outstanding exhibitions of leading French artists, but you can also visit its beautiful salons, relax in the garden, and watch a short film on Cézanne. We have lunch in the elegant restaurant after our visit. There is a pre-performance talk in our hotel later this afternoon, followed by another performance.

Performance details
Venue: TBA
Program: TBA
Performers: TBA

SUNDAY 13 JULY – CÉZANNE & AIX, PERFORMANCE 3 (B, L)

This morning we venture a little way out of Aix to explore sites associated with Paul Cézanne. The artist’s strikingly original response to the countryside of Aix laid many of the foundations for Modernism, making Cézanne a revered figure. We visit the landscapes where he worked and painted. [NB At the time of publication, Cézanne’s atelier in Aix-en-Provence is closed for restoration.] There will also be time for a visit to a Provençal winery to sample the delicious rosé, which is characteristic of the region, and to enjoy an informal lunch together. The afternoon is free, to rest and relax before our evening performance. Afterwards, we share our impressions over drinks in the hotel bar.

Performance details
Venue: TBA
Program: TBA
Performers: TBA

MONDAY 14 JULY – COASTAL PROVENCE, BASTILLE DAY (B, L)

Today’s excursion takes us to a pretty corner of the Mediterranean, just to the south of Aix. Nestled between France’s highest cliffs at Cap Canaille and the deep inlets of Les Calanques, the fishing village of Cassis has attracted artists and travellers for more than a century. After strolling through the village and enjoying a coffee at the port, we take a short cruise to three of the calanques, or creeks, to learn a little about their formation and history. After lunch together in a restaurant overlooking the sea, we drive to a series of high vantage points along the famous Route des Crêtes, where the views in all directions are sensational. The evening is at leisure.

TUESDAY 15 JULY – FREE TIME – PERFORMANCE 4 (B)

The day is then free to relax or to explore Aix, before we meet for a pre-performance talk in the late afternoon. There is the option to visit the contemporary Granet XXE and Musée Granet collection together with your tour leader. This evening we have another performance, which we discuss upon our return to the hotel. 

Performance details
Venue: TBA
Program: TBA
Performers: TBA

WEDNESDAY 16 JULY – CHÂTEAU LA COSTE – PERFORMANCE 5 (B, L)

This morning we head to a valley about half an hour’s drive north of Aix to visit Château La Coste. This extraordinary property is the vision of entrepreneur Paddy McKillen who, apart from growing and producing wine, has commissioned leading architects to create pavilions dotted around the estate, where paintings and sculptures by equally famous artists are displayed. On arrival, we tour pavilions by Richard Rogers, Oscar Niemeyer and Andy Goldsworthy, before lunch in the elegant Tadao Ando-designed restaurant, where we are surrounded by artworks by Louise Bourgeois, Alexander Calder and others. After lunch, we return to Aix for a talk in the hotel to brief us for tonight’s performance. There is the opportunity to share your impressions over a drink afterwards.

Performance details
Venue: TBA
Program: TBA
Performers: TBA

THURSDAY 17 JULY – THE LUBERON (B, L)

Provence is justly famous for its beauty, a beguiling blend of wild landscapes, ancient villages and rolling fields. Today we travel to the pretty district of the Luberon, passing through Lourmarin, officially one of The Most Beautiful Villages of France, and Roussillon, famous for the rich red ochres of its soil. We enjoy lunch together before continuing to a nearby village, to enjoy a stroll and explore its cobbled streets, medieval church and tree-lined squares. Returning to Aix-en-Provence, the evening is at leisure.

FRIDAY 18 JULY – ARLES (B, L)

Many travellers regard Arles as Provence’s finest small city. Today we explore Arles’ Roman and Romanesque heritage, including the great amphitheatre and the church and cloister of Saint-Trophime. We also visit the Fondation Vincent van Gogh to see its special summer exhibition. After lunch together, there is time to investigate a few of the city’s delightful boutiques or to take a stroll alongside the mighty Rhône. On the return your tour leader will give a talk in the coach about this evening’s performance.

Performance details
Venue: TBA
Program: TBA
Performers: TBA

SATURDAY 19 JULY – FAREWELL PERFORMANCE (B, L)

The morning is at leisure, to pack or do any last-minute shopping, but includes a final pre-performance briefing in the hotel. We then enjoy a farewell lunch in a fine local restaurant before an afternoon at leisure ahead of our final performance at the Festival. We share a drink afterwards in our hotel bar, as we discuss our experiences of this year’s Festival.

Performance details
Venue: TBA
Program: TBA
Performers: TBA

SUNDAY 20 JULY – DEPARTURE (B)

The tour ends after breakfast in the hotel.

Hotel Aquabella, 4*, 10 nights
www.aquabella.fr/en

The Hotel Aquabella is the only substantial 4-star hotel with resort facilities located within the old city of Aix-en-Provence. It has large public areas, with open plan bars, lounges and dining areas. The modern rooms are well-proportioned, and bathrooms have a choice of bath or shower. The large swimming pool will be especially inviting in the afternoon heat.

The hotel is within an easy walk of most Festival venues, as well as being close to shops, cafés and restaurants.

• Best available tickets to 7 performances at the 2025 Aix-en-Provence Festival

• 10 nights’ accommodation in a 4-star hotel

• All breakfasts, 8 lunches, dinners or suppers, plus welcome and farewell drinks and canapés

• Entry fees and tickets to sites as described in the itinerary

• All ground transport, guided tours and entrances, and tipping

• Talks by Limelight's Editor-at-Large Clive Paget throughout

• Services of an experienced tour manager throughout

A $1,000pp deposit is required at the time of booking to hold your place on tour.

Once the final Festival program is released in late November 2024, we will send you the final itinerary with performance details. You will have the option to retain your place, or to withdraw and receive a refund of your first deposit. Should you choose to retain your place, we will request a second deposit of $2,500pp, due on 12 March 2025.

We will invoice you for final payment for the tour, due on 26 April 2025.

When you book on one of tours, we ask you to accept our terms and conditions. You can read our terms and conditions here.