The Benjamin Vautier Exhibition is currently housed within the Yves Brayer Museum, in the heart of Les Baux-de-Provence. Vautier is considered one of the 20th Century’s leading French artists and is currently living and working in Nice. His works can be identified by his iconic first name signature – BEN for which he is more commonly known. Vautier’s work is characterised by a simple word or sentence blazoned across a black background. His works stem from a desire to educate and provoke dialogue between artist and observer, rather than commercial gain. The simplicity of Vautier’s work reflects his involvement with the Fluxus movement between 1962 and 1970. The Fluxus Movement The Fluxus movement, was considered one of the most radical and experimental art movement of the 1960s. Fluxus artists intentionally positioned themselves outside mainstream art and art institutions, encouraged a “do-it-yourself” aesthetic, and valued simplicity over complexity. Fluxus artists created their own venues for performances, exhibitions, and for the sale of their work. Vautier’s role in the early evolution of the Fluxus movement was crucial and he was one of its most active international participants. This led him to be described as 100% ‘Fluxman’ by George Maciunas, self-appointed founder of the Fluxus movement. Since 1958, Vautier’s has contributed to more than one hundred ex­hibitions and a large number of publications. His work on show in the Yves Brayer Museum provides an opportunity to re-discover the theoretician and artist. Benjamin Vautier Exhibition Opening Times April to September – Open every day: 10.00 am to 12.30 pm & 2.00 pm to 6.30 pm October to March – Except Tuesday: 11.00 am to 12.30 pm & 2.00 pm to 5.00 pm Annual closure January and February Benvengudo Hotel is a 4 star luxury boutique hotel located in Les Baux-de-Provence. Set in an authentic Provencal country house, its idyllic location offers a perfect base from which to explore this remarkable region in the South of France. Thanks for visiting the Benvengudo blog.

Benvengudo Hotel is in the process of renovating their Cote Jardin rooms and suites, which are due for completion on May 15th. As part of the renovation, Benvengudo will be rebranding their decorations and have selected the contemporary lamp and lighting designers Villa Alys to light their luxurious suites. The Villa Alys Lamps The passion of the craftspeople at Villa Alys can be seen in their enthusiasm and adoration for their work  – Villa Alys provides real French-style art de vivre with hand-crafted creations made in the great tradition of foundry masters. A Villa Alys lamp means the magic of light brought forth by a sculpture, timelessly and seamlessly, in the spirit of the times, and drawing its roots from the very heart of the history of the decorative arts, while reinventing the codes of luxury. On the Villa Alys website, their founder commented on the mantra behind their designs:  “We closely studied the relationship, the links that exist between the world of plants, animals and us, to celebrate the beauty and the forces of nature, what is essential and pure. “My desire is to create objects that I would love to have in my own home. In Villa Alys we believe that we have a fresh way of combining classic and contemporary design to create a timeless and fluid style embracing all generations…Our lamps spontaneously adapt themselves everywhere to all styles, gardens or palaces.” The Renovation As well as rebranding their decorations, Benvengudo will also be making their rooms more spacious and comfortable. For the ground floor rooms, there will be a private terrace and garden area and a private balcony over the gardens for rooms on the first floor. Each room will be equipped with a modern Ruckus Wi-Fi, covering 100% of the rooms and common areas, as well as HVAC air conditioning. The suites will be kitted out with Nespresso machines and minibars and safes for all rooms. For entertainment purposes, there will be Loewe flat-screen LCD TV’s with top quality SAT TV. Along with the Villa Alys lamps, there will also be lamps from Casadisagne. These lamps will be complimented with a combination of furnishings from Grange, Flamant and Provence antique furniture along with Grohe fittings and Pierre Frey and Casal textiles for the curtains and furniture. Finally, all rooms will be finished with luxury wooden oak flooring. Benvengudo Hotel is a 4 star luxury boutique hotel located in Les Baux-de-Provence. Set in an authentic Provencal country house, its idyllic location offers a perfect base from which to explore this remarkable region in the South of France. Thanks for visiting the Benvengudo blog.  

The Benvengudo Hotel has announced a special new restaurant menu in time for Easter. This custom menu is set to provide guests with a range of mouth-watering dishes for the upcoming Easter weekend. New head chef creates Easter menu Benvengudo Hotel Restaurant has a reputation for excellence. We source the freshest ingredients in Provence to create a variety of delightful dishes. Mathieu Groshenry has recently joined us as Head Chef and he will be launching a unique new menu in time for Easter. Mathieu is an artist in the kitchen and has worked in several Michelin star restaurants including the Palace Grand Hotel du Cap Ferrat, the restaurant La Rotonde and the Hotel Europe. The menu will be available at Benvengudo Hotel Restaurant from Noon on Sunday 5th April and Monday 6th April; Easter Sunday and Monday.  Benvengudo Hotel Restaurant’s Easter menu Guests are in for the ultimate gastronomic experience. The menu is a set price of €62.00 per head. diners will be able to enjoy a light yet refreshing Sault spelled risotto with farm egg and Parmesan to start. This is followed by a choice of two expertly-crafted mains; succulent Trout steak Bio Ardèche with rich Soubise sweet onions with a salad of weeds. Or our Saddle of lamb expertly flavoured with the freshest basil in Provence with a side of beautifully seasoned fondant potatoes with olive condiments straight from the charming village of Le Baux-de-Provence. For dessert we have a 70% Carupano chocolate cake for the sweet lovers. This gourmet chocolate is sourced straight from the Pure Plantations deep in the heart of Venezuela and is served with a creamy Tonka bean and black currant. We also have a range of cheeses specially selected by Mr Vergne himself, the noted master cheese refiner of Nimes. Also, for children up to 10 years, we have a special menu available for just €21.   For more information, please contact us directly by phone or by email. [button url=”http://www.benvengudo.com/book-your-table/”]Book your table[/button]   Benvengudo Hotel Benvengudo Hotel Restaurant’s menu offers some of the best food in Provence at a reasonable price. Benvengudo Hotel is a 4 star luxury boutique hotel located in Les Baux-de-Provence. Set in an authentic Provencal country house, its idyllic location offers a perfect base from which to explore this remarkable region in the South of France. Thanks for reading

If you’re looking for something to do in Provence you should visit The Yves Brayer Museum. Located in the idyllic village of Les Baux-de-Provence, near Benvengudo Hotel, the Museum is dedicated to showcasing the work of one of the most talented French artists of the 20th Century. Who was Yves Brayer? Yves Brayer was born during the splendour of pre-World War One Versailles in 1907. After spending his childhood in Bourges, the future artisan moved to Paris in 1924, where he attended a number of artistic academies, before setting off for Spain, Morroco and Italy in the later 1920’s and 30’s, eventually settling in Paris. Brayer quickly established himself as a talented artist in inter-war France. Like many of his contemporaries, Brayer devoted a plethora of his work in this period to chronicling the trials and tribulations of everyday life. The countryside of Provence changes Yves Brayer’s life Brayer initially took up a position as costume-and-set designer for a ballet at the Opera de Paris, where he devoted his time to illustrating the occupied and eventually liberated city until the end of the war in 1945. This is the year Brayer’s life changed. On a visit to Provence, Brayer was inspired by the architectural nature of the regions countryside. He was particularly inspired by the fact that no human hand had played a part in creating the regions architectural splendour. The French painter became particularly fascinated by the huge expanse of Camargue filled with white horses and black bulls, as well as the diverse forms and limestone folds of the Alpilles. Brayer went on to spend several months every year in Provence, drawing on the power of its natural beauty to create some truly stunning pieces of art. What can you expect at Yves Brayer Museum? The Yves Brayer Museum, located in Les Baux-de-Provence, is only a short walk away from Benvengudo Hotel. Since its opening in 1991, the Yves Brayer Museum has dedicated itself to showcasing the work one of the 20th Century’s most talented creatives. Visit the Museum and you will have the chance to view more than a hundred of Brayers canvas paintings, watercolours and drawings. Opening times and admittance fees at Yves Brayer Museum You’ll have plenty of opportunity to visit the Museum whilst on holiday in Provence:Open daily from 10am to 12.30pm and from 2pm to 6.30pm. From November to March it opens daily 11am to 12pm and 2pm to 5.30pm except Tuesdays, when it’s closed. The museum is closed annually from January to February.A visit to the museum is extremely good value:The price for adults is €5.00 per person. The museum provides a special discount if you book as part of a group. It costs €3.00 per person to visit the Yves Brayer Museum as part of a group. Entrance to the museum is free for those under the age of 18.Visit the Yves Brayer Museum Yves Brayer (1907 – 1990) was a skilled artist who left a legacy of paintings which depict ordinary life in inter-war and post-war France. Visit the Yves Brayer Museum when you’re in Provence and experienced this unique showcase of work by one of the country’s most inspiring painters. Benvengudo Hotel is a 4 star luxury boutique hotel located in Les Baux-de-Provence. Set in an authentic Provencal country house, its idyllic location offers a perfect base from which to explore this remarkable region in the South of France. Thanks for reading        

The village of Baux is home to many cultural and historical sites that celebrate the heritage of Les Baux-de-Provence. The Musée du Santon or Santons Museum is a fine example of one of those sites and an excellent event that is located within walking distance of the Benvengudo Hotel. This museum, nestled in the winding streets of the Baux village, showcases a vast number of “santon” figurines (figures for the Christmas crib), as well as scenes illustrating the traditions of Provence and Les Baux all linking to the Nativity. Open daily throughout the year, the museum is home to several different collections including; Neapolitan figu­rines from the 17th and 18th centuries, 19th century “santons” for churches whose painted papier mâché faces and glass sulphur eyes were made by the Carmelite convent in Avignon. Up to 95 santon maker display their figures here, including famous makers Carbonnel, Fouque, Jouve, Peyron Campagna, Toussaint, Thérèse Neveu, Louise Ber­ger, Simone Jouglas and more. The Shepard’s Offering The Shepard’s Offering is a traditional ceremony known locally as the “Pastrage” and is staged against the picturesque backdrop of Les Baux de Provence, in front of the village church. At this ceremony, you will find a traditional Provençal Christmas crib, as well as a recreation of everyday 19th-century family life, which is shown in two large windows. A collection of small brightly-coloured, naively-painted santons is placed at a height for children to reach. As well as the ceremony, there are 60 crèche scenes, including the old trades, little villages and recreated scenes from Marcel Pagnol’s work representing Provence and its traditions. The smallest crèche in the world consisting of 39 santons is housed in a hollowed nutshell is a Guinness world record. Work by over 100 contemporary santon makers from throughout Provence is also on display. 22 of these makers have won the Gold Medal for “Meilleur Ouvrier de France” or Master Craftsman award. The Former Guardroom The building that houses the Santons Museum was built over the old town walls. It was purchased by the Community of Les Baux in 1619 and used successively as a guardroom, school, court and Town Hall from the mid-17th century through to 1960. The building was partly rebuilt in 1657. Elegant ribbed vaulting was constructed alongside the beautiful Renaissance vaulting that already existed. The basement still contains two dungeons built in the 16th century that were used as prison cells until the French Revolution in 1789. Benvengudo Hotel is a 4 star luxury boutique hotel located in Les Baux-de-Provence. Set in an authentic Provencal country house, its idyllic location offers a perfect base from which to explore this remarkable region in the South of France. Thanks for visiting the Benvengudo blog  

Following on from last week’s blog post, the Benvengudo blog once again explores the heritage of Les Baux-de-Provence with the dazzling multimedia show of The Carrieres de Lumieres. The Carrieres is located in the Val d’Enfer quarry, just 2km from Benvengudo Hotel, which was originally created for extracting bauxite and limestone for the construction of the Chateau de Baux and the Baux village. Giants of the Renaissance Featuring from March 6th 2015 to January 3rd 2016 is the Giants of the Renaissance multimedia show. The Carrieres de Lumieres gives president to the masterpieces created by Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael towards the end of the 15th century and start of the 16th. Using a high tech system that combines music and images, these historic works of art dance across the vast walls of rock, the pillars and the ground of the quarry and are reminders of the richest periods of the Italian Renaissance. The beauty of the Carrieres, lays in the dynamic perspective of the images. The frescos that normally adorn the walls and ceilings of churches, villas and Italian palaces are brought up close and personal, giving you the opportunity to capture the finest details of these pieces that you would not see anywhere else. You are free to walk around the Carrieres at your own pace, giving you the opportunity to rediscover remarkable works like The Annunciation, The Virgin and Child with St Anne, The Mona Lisa and The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci (1442-1519); The Lady and the Unicorn, The School of Athens or The Triumph of Galatea by Raphael (1483-1520); the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and The Last Judgement by Michelangelo (1475-1564), among many others. A History of the Carrieres The Carrieres were made famous by French film-maker Jean Cocteau who fell in love with the beauty of Les Baux-de-Provence and, in 1959, made it the location of his film “Testament of Orpheus”. Then, in 1977, a new project was created. Drawing inspiration from the research of Joseph Svoboda, one of the great scenographers of the second half of the twentieth century. Svoboda had been working on a scenography idea using projected images as early as 1942 and the huge rock walls of Les Baux-de-Provence served as a perfect backdrop for a new kind of sound and light show which fully involved the audience. For over 30 years, the Carrières du Val d’Enfer has hosted these audio visual shows. In 2011, the town of Les Baux-de-Provence asked Culturespaces to take over management of its famous Carrières under a public service concession agreement and has been open to the public since March 30th 2012. Other Events Short Shows – Jules Verne’s “Fantastic Voyage” – From space to the depths of the ocean and the innermost core of the Earth in a poetic, imaginary homage to Jules Verne. A tour of the Quarry – A dedicated area is used for showings of extracts from Jean Cocteau’s film, “The Testament of Orpheus”, which was filmed in the depths of the quarry in 1959. Benvengudo Hotel is a 4 star luxury boutique hotel located in Les Baux-de-Provence. Set in an authentic Provencal country house, its idyllic location offers a perfect base from which to explore this remarkable region in the South of France. Thanks for reading

Located in the heart Les Baux-de-Provence village is the Louis Jou Exhibition. For those visiting Benvengudo Hotel with an interest in the Renaissance and the rich heritage of Les Baux, the exhibition of Louis Jou is a must see attraction. Louis Jou (1881-1968) was an artist, engraver, illustrator, typographer and talented edi­tor. Louis Jou’s reputation stems from works that combine crea­tive power with perfect execution. Located in Les Baux village, a 30 minute walk from Benvengudo Hotel and open from April to September, the Louis Jou exhibition has much to offer:Louis Jou’s studio – No admission charge (Open April to September) Louis Jou Museum – Visits by appointment. Events include Exhibitions, conferences, bookbinding competitions, Courses, Engraving and printing, engraving in stone and bookbinding.The Hôtel Renaissance Jean de Brion A master Typographer, Louis Jou is a man held close to the hearts of the people of Les Baux-de-Provence. He faithfully restored the magnificent Renaissance Jean de Brion Mansion in the 1920’s and, in doing so, played his part in the conservation and revival of the village that lived through years of struggle at the hands of the Lords of Baux. The Louis Jou Foundation We can perhaps see where Jou gained his inspiration from given that he was a friend of painters and poets Andre Derain (co-founder of Fauvism), Pablo Picasso, Guillaume Apolli­naire and Andre Suarès. In 1939 Jou decided to set up his studio in Les Baux-de-Provence. Between the manual presses and the sets of letters created by the artist, you can see the world of typography and édition d’art. In a nutshell, Louis Jou was a passionate artist who had a major influence on contemporary book design. Due to his contribution to the village, Jou has been honoured with a museum and studio at the site of the Jean de Brion Mansion. Displayed at this museum are some of his finest works; furniture, collections of ancient books, engravings by Dürer and Goya, paintings, sculptures and ceramics, all in the intimacy of the 6 rooms of the Jean de Brion Mansion. A Tour of the Mansion is available and can be followed by a visit to the workshops, which contain the presses used by Louis Jou during his time as Master typographer, engraver, printer and publisher. A Final Word on Louis Jou Louis Jou was a creative artist influenced by some of the great printers of the 15th and 16th centuries. He aimed to enrich tradition by creating his own typefaces, composing type by hand and designing the page layout of many publications.  He illustrated pages with woodcuttings and printed them using a hand press. Poet and publisher Pierre Seghers best described him as “the architect of books and Les Baux”. Benvengudo Hotel is a 4 star luxury boutique hotel located in Les Baux-de-Provence. Set in an authentic Provencal country house, its idyllic location offers a perfect base from which to explore this remarkable region in the South of France. Thanks for reading