Art & Architecture Walk
Château La Coste
- ArtistLouise Bourgeois, Alexander Calder, Richard Serra, Andy Goldsworthy, Sean Scully and Ai Weiwei
- ArchitectTadao Ando, Jean Nouvel, Frank Gehry, Renzo Piano, Richard Rogers and Oscar Niemeyer
JULIE SILBERMANN Outside Aix-en-Provence you will find 200 hectares fostering a unique alliance between wine, architecture and art – a Château dedicated to producing organic wine.A Louise Bourgeois spider welcomes visitors and making the beginning for a 4 km walk within the vineyards exploring over 60 art works and fascinating architectural pavilions by Tadao Ando.
Located just 15 km north of Aix-en-Provence, Château La Coste stretches across more than 500 acres of biodynamic vineyards, olive groves, and rolling woodland. Since its acquisition in 2002 by Irish entrepreneur Patrick McKillen, the estate has evolved into a cultural destination where contemporary art, architecture, gastronomy, and wine converge. Internationally renowned artists and architects are invited to create permanent, site-specific works that engage directly with the Provençal landscape.
Architecture and art are seamlessly woven into the vineyard landscape. The estate features striking buildings by some of the world’s most celebrated architects: Tadao Ando’s serene Art Center with reflecting pools and chapels, Jean Nouvel’s sleek winemaking cellars, Frank Gehry’s sculptural Music Pavilion, Renzo Piano’s discreet Art Pavilion embedded in the hillside, Richard Rogers’s dramatic cantilevered gallery, and Oscar Niemeyer’s curved pavilion nestled among the trees.
Scattered along the 4 km Art & Architecture Walk, visitors encounter more than 40 site-specific works by leading contemporary artists. Highlights include Louise Bourgeois’s Crouching Spider, Alexander Calder’s kinetic Small Crinkly, Richard Serra’s monumental steel plates, Andy Goldsworthy’s woven-branch Oak Room, Sean Scully’s limestone Wall of Light Cubed, and Ai Weiwei’s sinuous Ruyi Path. Other contributions come from Tracey Emin, Sophie Calle, Jenny Holzer, Bob Dylan, Prune Nourry, Franz West, and more, each piece thoughtfully placed to interact with nature.
The walk takes around two to three hours, winding through vineyards, olive groves, and wooded slopes. Works appear as though discovered by chance, yet each is carefully positioned to create a dialogue between landscape, architecture, and art—making Château La Coste a unique destination where culture, wine, and nature meet.
Why it matters
Château La Coste stands out as a rare, immersive crossroads where vineyards, architecture, art, and nature intertwine organically. Without imposing themes, each work is part of a broader dialogue—enhancing both the land and the artistic expression. It’s a curated wander that's as contemplative as it is sensory, offering a deeper appreciation of art in landscape.
