What is an architectural centre? Find out at the Vasarely Foundation!

Victor Vasarely, whose real name was Győző Vásárhelyi, was born in 1906 in Pécs, in what is now Hungary. In the 1930s, he moved to France to work as a graphic artist for advertising agencies. It was here that he began to take an interest in optical art, also known as op art, an art form based onoptical illusions andvisual effects that play on the fallibility of the human eye.

Over time, he developed his own model ofgeometric abstract art and wanted to promote art that was social, accessible to all and involved in urban life. It was with this in mind that he founded the Vasarely Foundation with his wife in 1971, a non-profit architectural centre independent of merchants, the administration and political parties. It was a gamble that paid off for the artist, who wanted to popularise art without social or cultural discrimination. Victor Vasarely died in Paris in 1997.

Inaugurated in 1976 in Aix-en-Provence, the Vasarely Foundation is an architectonic centre, in other words a structure where art and architecture merge to become one. It aims to be a laboratory for research, discovery and creation. From the outside, the monument is astonishing for its unique architecture. Composed of 16 hexagonal cells that form a whole 90 metres long, 45 metres wide and 12 metres high, it houses 42 integrations of monumental works by Victor Vasarely into the avant-garde architecture of the Foundation.

The public is invited to wander between these eight-by-six-metre works of art, which create colourful geometric spaces based on optical illusions, architectural concepts and musicality. This place of sharing, exchange and experimentation attracts nearly 100,000 visitors every year.

A guided tour of the Foundation will give you the opportunity to learn more about Victor Vasarely and his work, thanks to the comments of a passionate guide. Architectonics, abstract paintings and kinetic art will no longer hold any secrets for you.

In addition to the works of art on permanent display, visitors to the Vasarely Foundation can also discover numerous temporary exhibitions on the theme of art, architecture, science, society or all of these at once. Conferences, workshops and even shows and concerts are sometimes organised within the walls of the centre. Consult theFondation Vasarely diary to find out more. The Foundation is now managed by Pierre Vasarely, Victor Vasarely's grandson.

With its unique and surprising concept, don't miss a visit to the Vasarely Foundation during your next stay in Aix-en-Provence! Allow one to two hours to visitthe complex.

🚌 How do I get to the Vasarely Foundation?

The Vasarely Foundation is located in the Jas de Bouffan district and is accessible by public transport:

• bus A: Vasarely stop
• bus n°8: Margueride stop
• bus n°9: St John Perse and Clg Jas De Bouffan stops

⏰ Vasarely Foundation opening hours

The Vasarely Foundation is open every day from 10 am to 6 pm.

👉 However, it is closed on December 25 and January 1.

👛 Vasarely Foundation Prize

• Full price: €15
• Students: €12
• Under 16s: €8
• Under 10s: €5
• Under 5s: free
• Family pass (2 adults + 3 children under 15): €40
• City Pass Aix-en-Provence: free
• Guided tour: €3 extra

To find out all the prices and book your ticket online at a special rate, go directly to the official Aix-en-Provence Tourist Office website.