From May 18 to June 7, 2026, the Aix-Marseille-Provence metropolitan area transforms into an industrial exploration playground. Indus' 3 Days returns for its 11th edition, this time spread over three full weeks to offer even more opportunities to discover a heritage that's often overlooked. For over ten years, this unique event has opened the doors of businesses, workshops, and industrial sites usually closed to the public.
A rich and overlooked industrial heritage
The Aix-Marseille-Provence metropolitan area is home to an industrial heritage of surprising richness. From the old soap factories of Marseille to the stone quarries of Cassis, and including the art craft workshops of Aix-en-Provence, this territory tells the story of know-how passed down from generation to generation.
During these three weeks, you can visit places usually inaccessible: creative workshops, production sites, converted industrial wastelands, century-old factories still in operation. Each visit reveals the techniques, trades, and innovations that shape our daily lives.
From Hôtel des Arts, located in the heart of Aix-en-Provence's historic center, you're in immediate proximity to several participating sites. The center of Aix-en-Provence is filled with artisan workshops that traditionally open their doors during this event.
Three weeks to explore everything
This 11th edition runs from May 18 to June 7, 2026 across the entire metropolitan area. The three-week extension allows visits to be spread out and welcomes more visitors under better conditions.
Visits generally take place in small groups, often accompanied by the artisans or site managers themselves. You thus discover trades from the inside, understand manufacturing processes, and interact directly with professionals.
Some visits take place during the day, others in the evening to adapt to companies' production constraints. Weekends traditionally offer the greatest number of openings, ideal for visiting tourists.
From art crafts to new technologies
Indus' 3 Days covers a wide spectrum of industrial activities. You can visit a master glassblower's workshop, discover the manufacturing secrets of a local food company, explore a traditional printing house, or understand how a tech startup operates.
The program mixes historical heritage with contemporary innovation. A 19th-century forge sits alongside a biotechnology research laboratory. This diversity reflects the economic richness of the metropolitan territory.
Each site tells a particular story, often linked to local history. Old oil mills, santon workshops, ochre quarries bear witness to an industrious past that's still alive today.
Practical information for your visit
The complete program for Indus' 3 Days is generally unveiled a few weeks before the event. Registration is often done online, sometimes with time slots that fill up quickly for the most popular sites.
Most visits are free, some offer a symbolic contribution. Schedules adapt to each site's constraints: generally plan between 1 and 2 hours per visit.
From your stay at Hôtel des Arts, you can easily walk to participating sites in Aix-en-Provence, and metropolitan public transport takes you to other municipalities in the metro area. Remember to check transport schedules for evening visits.
Indus' 3 Days offers a unique perspective on a territory in constant movement, where tradition and modernity coexist daily.
