France's Aix-en-Provence glimmers as the perfect haven for art aficionados history buffs and sun worshippers because it combines abundant cultural heritage with a lively contemporary way of life. The city, which is recognized as the birthplace of the iconic artist Paul Cézanne, boasts an inspiring tour in its cobblestone streets historic sites, and first-rate festivals. Warmly sunbathed, Aix-en-Provence blends in its balmy air eternal charm with lively café life, an experience not to be missed by anyone who comes.
Walk in a city where art, history, and café life come alive on every corner, where the spirit of Cézanne still speaks through every street. It is a little Paris warmed by the sun.
If you want all the beauty and charm of Paris but don't want to deal with the tourists, high prices, and capricious weather, then this city is your destination.
Aix-en-Provence is steeped in a rich history firmly rooted in the past. The city has a thriving arts culture, epitomized by its world-famous Aix-en-Provence Festival and its connection to the legendary painter Paul Cézanne, who spent most of his life here.
The architecture beguiles its guests through its stately fountains and narrow, picturesque side-streets, sending a viewer into an environment of civilized Parisian style combined with Provençal warmth. Aix-en-Provence maintains its regional identity while embracing cosmopolitanism, thrumming with lively cafés and multicultural diversity of locals and international residents. The Roman and medieval heritage of the city remains vibrant throughout, depositing its streets with richness and nuance.
Although Aix itself is quite small, perhaps one hundred and fifty thousand in population, it's a completely different experience from that of great city Paris. Without the mobs or the huge museums, Aix entices its guests with its warm atmosphere and old-world charm. Tourists flock in hundreds of thousands annually to stroll down its quaint streets, browse from street markets overflowing with fresh fruits and vegetables and local goods, and dine on world-class cuisine. It is never too crowded or chaotic like Paris, however.
Aix-en-Provence has become France's second most desirable place to reside, after Paris, and ahead even of the scorching Côte d'Azur. For the art lover, the city is a treasure chest. Aix-born in 1839, Cézanne's life is infused in the fabric of the town. His trail can be followed through the streets using small bronze Cs set into the pavement. His favorite, the Montagne Sainte-Victoire, rises up majestically in the distance and can be seen from numerous viewpoints all over the city.
His art studio, perched on a hill in a quiet residential area, remains as it was in 1906. Step inside and you’ll find Cézanne’s cloak still hanging in the corner and his favorite vases and jugs resting on creaky wooden tables, frozen in time.
Exploring the medieval quarter is a must for any visitor, with its maze of narrow, winding alleys offering endless discovery. Just to the south of the Cours Mirabeau lies the elegant Mazarin quarter, where townhouses from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries line up in tastefully parallel boulevards. It is here that you can sit and sip a long, relaxed coffee at an outside café, absorbing the scene like a local Parisian. Don't forget to visit the Béchard bakery on the Cours for freshly baked pastries, or to the stunning cathedral and peaceful cloister which is conveniently located nearby.
Aix offers plenty of choice in terms of food, from many Michelin-starred restaurants to have a gourmet lunch to plain, low-budget options. But for a cheap, plain meal, the city markets have all the ingredients to provide a delicious picnic. Buy fresh bread, cheese, olives, and fruit, and sit in the sun to enjoy your meal. Direct contact with the locals while making a simple exchange, even if all you can do is utter a few phrases of French, gives a authentic touch to your stay.
The nearest major airport to Aix is Marseille Provence Airport, a twenty-five-minute car ride or taxi trip away. Although there is no airport located in Aix, the local region's main air travel hub is Marseille with routes linking the city to many international destinations.
Travelers from the UK have direct flights from London, Bristol, Manchester, Edinburgh, and Belfast to Marseille. Low-cost flight operators like British Airways, easyJet, and Ryanair offer cheap fares, ranging from at least twenty-eight pounds and ninety-nine pence.
Aix-en-Provence in France entices artists and historians alike with its real heritage and lively culture. Basked in sunlight, it has just the right blend of eternal beauty and lively Provençal spirit.
No matter why you go, whether for the art, the history, the sun, or the cafes, Aix-en-Provence delivers a refined but unstuffy atmosphere that's both familiar and newly invigorating. It's the perfect place to enjoy the best of French elegance without the madness of the metropolis.
