Lovers of the city of a thousand fountains and its majestic Sainte-Victoire Mountain, we, Mylène, Arthur, and Jérôme, certified guides, invite you to wonderful guided tours. From the heart of Aix-en-Provence to the landscapes so dear to Paul Cézanne, we share with you the beauties of nature, treasures of culture, and local secrets.

How did Secrets d’ici come to be?
The starting point of Secrets d’ici: it’s sharing. As professional archaeologists, we, Arthur and Mylène, over time, enriched ourselves with archaeological discoveries and the search for our past. This inspired us to share these discoveries, to go beyond scientific research, and connect these two worlds of curiosity: researchers and you.

In 2013, Mylène came up with the idea, during a family meal, to introduce the heritage of her city, Aix-en-Provence, and its surrounding region with a fresh perspective. To reveal the little stories, secrets, and heritage that we all know, that we pass by every day without truly taking the time to observe… Guided tours for both locals and visitors alike. Guided tours that are much more than that: true moments of life shared. Arthur was immediately captivated, and that’s how Secrets d’ici was born.

In 2018, Jérôme, a geologist, and then Samarcande in 2024, both certified guides, joined the team, strengthening it with good humor and sharing.

Mylène is a child of the land—her city, her territory, and her Sainte-Victoire Mountain are in her blood. As a child, she would rummage through the hillside searching for “treasures” left behind by the ancestors and imagined sharing her discoveries with “her students.”

With her diploma in hand, she first shared her passion at the Granet Museum in Aix as a guide for the exhibition Le Grand Atelier du Midi: From Cézanne to Matisse in 2013, and then as a cultural mediator from 2016 to 2019. Since 2014, Mylène has also worked as a guide at the Aix-en-Provence Tourist Office.

In love with her region, it was only natural for her to want to share it in a different way. With a smile, passion, and a little local accent, she invites you to discover Aix and the surrounding region.

Arthur was born in Reims, and he too studied archaeology. He even holds two Master’s degrees in Archaeology! After a first Professional Master’s degree in Reims in photogrammetry, a technique that allows the 3D reconstruction of an object from photographs, he worked on the diet of the people of Aix during the Modern Era as part of a second Research Master’s degree. His research has been published and can also be found in the book Aix en archéologie, 25 ans de découverte, published by the Archaeology Department of the City of Aix-en-Provence.

He discovered Provence in 2011 by volunteering at the Ponteau archaeological dig. His involvement allowed him to become a scientific collaborator and later a research engineer. He moved to the region in 2012 to be closer to Mylène. Since 2014, he has worked as a partner guide for the Aix-en-Provence Tourist Office. Since 2016, he has also contributed to the presentation of certain temporary exhibitions at the Granet Museum as a cultural mediator. Captivated by Aix-en-Provence and Sainte-Victoire, he too wanted to share his passion and reveal the secrets of the region.

Jérôme’s first passion is geology, which he studied at university (Master’s level) and which has never left him, neither in his work nor in his hobbies. Like many geologists, it is the oil industry that allowed him to build his career, working as both an engineer and a technical sales representative, on platforms and in design offices.

His journey took him from the United States to Asia, through the Middle East and Africa. These travels offered him many opportunities to discover very diverse cultures and the people who bring them to life. At the same time, Jérôme continued to explore France with a keen eye on its history and the landscapes surrounding it. He is well-acquainted with the Mediterranean south of France, where he has family ties. His growing love for Provence eventually led him to settle in Aix-en-Provence, where he met Mylène and Arthur.

Samarcande spent her early years in Marseille before moving to the Aisne. Passionate about archaeology and folk tales since childhood, she used to dig in the garden, display her finds, and offer guided tours to her family… As her love for foreign languages gradually took precedence, she pursued studies in English and Asian languages and civilizations at the University of Aix-en-Provence, where she settled. I

After a Master’s in Chinese studies, Samarcande combined everything that inspired her in a Master’s in History of Ancient and Medieval Civilizations and Heritage.

Motivated by the idea of developing a form of “outdoor” education and contributing to the enhancement of her region’s heritage, Samarcande decided to pursue a guide certification, during which she met Arthur and Mylène among her trainers. After various internships and professional contracts in conservation and cultural mediation at the Cezanne Workshop in Aix-en-Provence, as well as in the Mediterranean archaeology, pottery, and decorative arts museums of Marseille, she naturally wanted to join the Secrets d’ici team, her guide certification in hand!