Les Marronniers

  Creative spaces for workshops or meetings in the beautiful Provençal region of southern France
Built as a Manor House in the 18th Century, Les Marronniers, has been carefully restored as a Conference Centre situated at the heart of a fully functional 15-acre model farm. To the authentically renovated main house has been added a matching suite of visitors room provides a welcome that is as warm as it is special.

The surrounding land is maintained as a model ecological farm that combines traditional agricultural methods with modern understanding and techniques. Set amongst beautiful orchards, nut and olive groves are fields of grain and other crops which are interspersed with vegetable plots, a herb-garden and an area given over to the raising of sheep, poultry and other small animals. The domain's original irrigation system, including its goldfish ponds, has been restored and extended, whilst its hedges of boxwood, blackberry and cane, alleys of coppiced trees and a unique forest of bamboo have been extended, enhancing the beauty of the landscape. The farm is designed to demonstrate the efficacy of a total systems approach to the ecological management of small farms in a region where such facilities are under mounting economic pressure from nearby industrial and urban development.

Les Marronniers hosts groups doing creative workshops during the months of April - October, becoming for the remainder of the year, a quiet place of retreat for writers and other artists. Furnished with an excellent library the old Manor House transforms itself into a place of calm concentration for those who seek a productive, inspiring, and secluded atmosphere.

Facilities:
 Style: Classical Provençal Manor House
Les Marronniers is managed and maintained by Francesco Rimondi and Molly Augustine. Rimondi, an artist and sculptor, who has exhibited both locally and internationally, dividing his time between maintaining the farm and the facilities and creating his delicately detailed sculptures and canvasses. Molly, a warm and radiant hostess, educator and manager holds the project in a productive balance. Both are excellent chefs and provide an exceptional welcome to their extended family of friends, visitors, and guests.

DIRECTIONS:

From Marseilles:  take the Autoroute   A 51 North towards Aix and come off at Exit 12 (sortie 12), Aix-Les-Platanes. More detailed directions, click here.

From Aix-en-Provence:  take the N 96 towards Sisteron-Venelles.  3.5 kms on, passing through Les Platanes just beyond an ESSO station, you'll see the Aqueduct. After 200m turn left at D13, St Canadet, cross the bridge and immediately turn left passing under the bridge. You will see the Les Marronniers sign after 200 metres on the left. (30 mins to Marseilles for Air & Rail connections.)     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Most taxi cab drivers from Aix know Les Marronniers, however, if you are taking a taxi from the airport, this description below in french may help them to get here quickly.

Prenez autoroute A51 Nord vers Sisteron/Avignon. Sorti numero 12, traverser le pont; prenez le premiere gauche extreme qui passe endessous le pont. Suivez la route pour 200 metres. Les Marronniers c'est á gauche.

 
Les Marronniers
405 Chemin de la Bastide Rouge
Quartier Pelcourt 13100
Aix-en-Provence, France
Tel: (04) 42.23.08.85
Fax: (04) 42.96.10.19
E-mail: LesMarronniers@wanadoo.fr