Arts and crafts Provence-Alpes-Côte D'Azur

The discovery trails, the lavandoscope, the plant library, the guided tour plunge you into the lavender, its culture, its uses... Dare to cut with a sickle, watch the distillation, follow a workshop to learn how to make soap, make cosmetics and its natural and organic household products, make a lavender spindle, etc... Stop off at the Arômatic' Bar, a herbal tea and pancake bar or waffle bar made with spelt flour, an ancient cereal from Haute-Provence.

Fouque santons are often imitated, but never equaled: their emblematic Coup de mistral ©, created by grandfather Paul Fouque in 1952, represents a shepherd, cape in the wind, facing the mistral. Few houses continue to make handmade clay santons from Provence! Today, the Fouque company has exported nearly 1,800 models, from small painted santons to large figurines, throughout the world. Visit the store, you will see the Provencal crib in the showroom and can choose your santons.

A good address to find small gifts, Provencal table art, olive wood, but also olive oil, honey, spreads, jams, souvenirs… and many other ideas.

Patricia Viard installed his shop in the heart of the village. Artisanale artisanale, it offers more than 40 scents on its stalls which evolve over the seasons. Different shapes and colours, intoxicating scents for its most traditional soaps to the most original (crèches, cars…), also with a bio range.

Formerly a stable, it was the town's blacksmith's hideaway. Since the summer of 2018, the shop has been run by Frédéric Cousin and Nadège Arniaud, with a revival that is a pleasure to see! The ceramists there passionately make incredibly beautiful pottery. Clay is skillfully shaped to give body to sublime creations. A potter's know-how that has been passed on in Aubagne for twenty-two centuries. Ideal to please and indulge oneself with a great novelty since the end of 2020, an online shop.

The origin of these knives comes from Corrèze where an enthusiast opened his craft knife factory in 2004. The regional collections are inspired by the land and cultural heritage of the region: Provence, Brittany, Alsace, Languedoc... This shop offers a wide range of national and regional models (including the famous Saint-Paul): pocket knives, table knives, penknives and unique pieces can be discovered in this exclusive shop or on their website.

Artist-ceramist Vincent was a menswear stylist in Paris before moving to Provence to make a living from his passion. His inspiration comes from ancient art. His creations include anthropomorphic vases in the shape of faces, to which he adds accessories - ceramic earrings, basketry - vases with handles, amphoras on which he traces faces with a blue line in the manner of Picasso or Cocteau, and small decorative objects. Vincent organizes workshops (modeling, glazing, firing), and you'll leave with a finished object

The material is the clay found at the foot of the Sainte-Victoire mountain; the know-how is the family heritage of Léonie and Jean Buffile, a couple of avant-garde and passionate ceramists who created their workshop in Aix in 1945. Since 1984, Vincent and then Romain, his son, perpetuate the tradition in the same workshop, not far from the Allées Provençales. From the art of the table (plates, cups and bowls) to the decorative object, even monumental (on order), you will find at the workshop what you need to feed your desires. A place between tradition and modernity.

In the heart of the village, here is a real Ali Baba's cave! In addition to fine wines, liqueurs, spirits and rare alcohols from Provence and elsewhere, there are more than a thousand regional products collected by Laurent Leurs, such as natural and flavoured olive oils, flavoured vinegars, jams, honey, tapenade, nougats, calissons, olives, mustards, and other scented soaps. Composite baskets and gift vouchers are also great ways to offer a variety of pleasures. A great shopping address in short!

A house for visitors with taste. Exhibition and sale of objects made by local craftsmen, particularly in the field of woodworking: furniture and carved objects. A tradition that dates back to the ^17th century. Woodcarving became a traditional activity for the Queyrassins, to occupy the long winter months. Utilitarian objects were adorned with remarkable ornamental motifs carved in wood, a material that is very abundant in the region. Most of the wood is cembro pine and larch. Not to be missed.

Passionate about wood and fine patina, Christophe Roussel, artisan cabinetmaker repairs, restores and instruit. Born in the Jura, high place of wood, this carpenter's son, grandson of antique shops, was rocked in the passion of beautiful furniture. His father bequeathed his secrets and offered him, for his 6 th birthday, his first cabinet as a cabinetmaker… Then, at school, a decisive meeting with his teacher in extremely harsh arenas, who will convey the taste of meticulous work to him. He is found in New Caledonia, where he is painting and dares to expose his works for the first time. Returning to Paris, he works for a wood specialized product company. In 2001, he settled in Marseille, created his shop-shop rue Breteils. He works as a craftsman cabinetmaker, a conservator, a teammates and gives lectures to the public to pass on the basics of his art.

Since 1996, this workshop is dedicated to continuing the tradition of the nativity and the Provençal nativity, by offering clay-based handicraft creations, with the requirement of originality, harmony of colours and representation of movement. All models have been molded and sculpted a little higher in the street and are cooked to this address on the floor and painted in front of your eyes. Offering collections of several dimensions (9, 12, 18 and 30 cm), you can also find reproductions of famous figures such as Paul Cézanne, Alphonse Daudet or Frédéric Mistral… and of course all the characters of pastoral care. The smallest nativity are worth about 20 €, those of about 100 €. On the side of the nativity there are some jewels of creator, des and soaps. You will not miss a traditional memory from the South!

Lucien Granoux is passionate about basketry, and has made it his profession since he retired. He makes baskets of all kinds, including the truffiaïre, a typical Champsaur basket for truffles and potatoes, the poor man's truffle. Lucien offers workshops on this ancestral technique. It's easy to learn if you're a bit handy, and a 2-day course is all you need to familiarize yourself with the different braiding stitches - double or triple acrocane, zigzag, African braiding, Gallo-Roman braiding.

Halfway between the Vieille-Charité and the cathedral of Major, discover a rather unique place, shared between different artists. A workshop, opened 20 years ago, where talents meet and create a special atmosphere, conducive to creation. A collective of 8 creators awaits you here: three ceramists, three mosaicists, a jewelry maker and a designer. The space is uncluttered, bright, the creations are well highlighted. The emphasis is on natural materials. For the rest, take the time to discover.

A shop full of organic and traditional products. La Maison des Producteurs was created on the initiative of a group of local women farmers who wish to make known and appreciate the agricultural products - organic and traditional - from their farms. They sell sachets of lavender flowers with original shapes and designs, cosmetics (shampoo made by cold saponification), essential oils or lavender-based floral waters.

One of the temples of the artisanal candle in the Var. The scents are very varied and it is hard to choose your fragrance when you start smelling the candles one by one. Cinnamon orange, imperial orange, old rose, marine, or acacia; all decorated with different patterns, they are next to delicate home fragrances intended to diffuse, with impregnated pebbles, sweet fragrances in all your interior. A delight for the senses and good value for money. The perfect souvenir to relax with when you return from holiday!