As part of my architecture class, we have been learning about the history of Aix, from its establishment by the Romans to the French Renaissance, where we are currently discussing the construction of the big boulevard at the center of town, the cours Mirabeau. The holiday spirit has finally descended on Aix: the holiday market is in full swing, with carnival rides and roasted chestnut stands traversing the length of the cours Mirabeau, and lots of festive lights decorating the windy streets. The leaves have changed as well, with shades of orange and yellow lining the street.

There aren’t many green spaces in the historic city center; most parks are located on the periphery and are man-made. For example, my sit spot at the Vendôme was outside of the original borders of Aix, thus the gardens and the museum itself were constructed and rebuilt over the following centuries. The building itself, with its large windows, symmetrical facade, and sculptures of two men (atlantes, modeled after Atlas, who supported the weight of the world) on either side of the entryway, displays the influence of French classicisme of the 18th century.

While these gardens are accessible today thanks to the fact that the Pavillon Vendôme has been transformed into a museum, this space and other hôtels particuliers around Aix were inherently private from their creation up until contemporary times; they were created by and for aristocratic or bourgeois families or individuals, who utilized the French classicisme and French gardening styles to show off their wealth and domination over nature and space. While this is no longer the case today, with many of these spaces being transformed into museums or cultural centers, the influence of this highly stylized, manmade style of urban planning is still present, whether through the presence of elaborate topiaries or the location of these gardens, tucked between busy roads and winding streets devoid of greenery.