Hôtel Chaumont in Aix en Provence (a museum , restaurant, café, garden, and gift shop.) Most of all a delight.
Hôtel de Caumont in Aix-en-Provence was originally a private hôtel particulier (a grand townhouse) built in the 18th century. Construction began in 1715 and was completed in 1742. It was designed by prominent architects Robert de Cotte and Georges Vallon, commissioned by François Rolland de Réauville, the Marquis de Cabannes.
If my farm girl childhood self—barefoot in the playing in the fields, pockets full of wildflower petals and daydreams—could’ve seen into the future, she might have gasped at the sight of it all.
Not a barn or hay bale in sight, but instead a room bathed in the softest sighs of color—blush pinks, candy apple, and skies so pale blue they seemed plucked from a painting.
Over the centuries, it passed through several aristocratic families, including the Caumont family, which gave the mansion its current name. It remained a private residence for a long time before eventually being repurposed—at one point it served as a music conservatory in the 20th century.
Today, it’s a beautifully restored art center and museum open to the public, known for its exhibitions, elegant salons, and garden.
We sipped hot chocolate at Hôtel de Caumont, half expecting Marie Antoinette to glide past in silk slippers. The garden beyond the windows, but in here, time lingers—thick and sweet as the chocolate in my cup.
It was as if Marie Antoinette herself had leaned in with a knowing smile, while Madame de Pompadour perfume danced in the air.
My inner child tucked a flower behind her ear, looked up at the sky, and winked
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