Paul Arbaud's Private Museum and Library in Aix-en-Provence

The Hotel Paul Arbaud, located at 2 rue du Quatre-Septembre and rue Mazarine in Aix-en-Provence, is a private museum and library - a testament to the passion and creativity of its founder, Paul Arbaud. The building was constructed around 1798 and lies within the heart of the Mazarin quarter, just south of the Cours Mirabeau. Inside, the interior decorations date from the end of the 19th century and the interiors reflect the grandeur of its past. On the ground floor, a small hall leads to the marble-staircase, which ascends to the first intermediate floor, where traditional tiles and a wooden border carry the climb up to the second.

The first floor houses Paul Arbaud’s office, a smoking room, his and his wife’s bedrooms, and a complete bathroom – a modern convenience for that time. On this floor, the library holds a collection of more than 148,000 manuscripts and numerous ancient books, from the 14th to the 20th century. The hotel also boasts a small garden with an ancient aviary attached to the main building. The museum participates in cultural events in Aix-en-Provence, such as the European Heritage Days, the Aix-en-Provence Biennale, and the 3rd edition of the Biennale in 2025.

For clarity, I've specified which artworks were displayed in 2026, and corrected the mixed-up dates for the 2025 exhibition. The rest of the text remains unchanged.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons