Last Saturday Robin and I took a guided tour of Aix en Provence with Frédéric Paul.
A Local with Passion for Sharing History
A rising television star and truly passionate about history, Frédéric aims to share insights into the history of his native Provence. From Toulon, he’s a local on a mission hoping to spread appreciation for the little stories that make cities come alive.
Through Le Visible est Invisible (the visible is invisible), Frédéric explains the history of curious public art in the city as well as architectural details. I love this type of thing. I find that in cities like Aix en Provence, or perhaps any city with a lot of history, one can wander the streets and find all kinds of curious details. Remember to look up!
I learned the truly curious history behind my favorite square in Aix (or perhaps the world?)
A Variety of Tours
Frédéric offers 2 tours a week leaving from the tourist office in Aix en Provence. You can buy tickets directly from the Tourism office. You have a choice of three different types of tours including The Hidden Details of the Old Town, Aix off the Beaten Track, Aix Antique as well as the Historic Figures of Aix en Provence. These tours cost only 9 euros.
Otherwise, Frédéric also offers private tours that are very flexible. He can pick you up from your hotel and you can cover any type of history about Aix, Marseille or Toulon that interests you. His only requirement is that the tour takes at least two hours in order to do justice to the city. This costs 150€.
It’s a wonderful way to spend an afternoon. When on a tour, the ambling pace forces you to really take notice of the many fountains of Aix that seem to appear in every corner. It’s the perfect dose of history combined with an appreciation for architecture and art.
Frédéric has worked in many sectors but has seemed to find the good life in being a tour guide. His days are spent sharing his passion and wandering around a beautiful town. How could life be bad?!
He speaks English, French and Italian. You can contact him through his site Le Visible est Invisible or his Facebook page.
À faire!
Leave a Reply