An elegant and aristocratic cultural city in the south of France
Aix-en-Provence is an upmarket and glamourous city with beautifully maintained pedestrian streets and grand boulevards, fancy shops and well-dressed people. It is a city of refined elegance, vibrant and colourful and well worth spending a day exploring on your Provence walking holiday. Aix is a university city with over 40 000 students, many of which are foreign, and give the city a youthful feel. Fountains adorn the numerous squares; centuries old plane trees line the streets and provide shade for the café and restaurant terraces. You will be spoilt for choice for place to get a drink and a bit to eat.
Walking holiday in Provence: living the good life in Aix-en-Provence
Take a stroll through the elegant streets of the city and admire the shop fronts, the 17th and 18th century mansions and enjoy a drink at the famous “Les Deux Garçons” café, an old haunt of the painter Paul Cézanne. The Madeleine Church with its interior adorned with paintings by Rubens, the town hall and clock tower and the Saint Sauveur Cathedral full of medieval art are just some of our recommendations. Located south of Cours Mirabeau, the “Quartier Mazarin” was built in the 17th century. It hosts the beautiful “Place des Quatre dauphins” square lined with attractive private mansions and the famous Granet museum.
A sweet treat on your self-guided Provence walking holiday
The « calisson » is a local speciality. This marzipan-like confectionery is made from sweet almonds and preserved fruit. The best place to sample some is the “Patisserie Béchard” on Cours Mirabeau.
Hiking in Provence at the foot of the Sainte Victoire mountain
Hovering majestically over the town of Aix-en-Provence is the Sainte-Victoire mountain culminating at 1 011m above sea level. An impressive backdrop to the city, the north side of the mountain is very green with gentle slopes whereas the south side is more steep and rugged. It is a place of natural and wild beauty and views from the summit are spectacular.
Aix-en-Provence : walking in Cezanne's footsteps
The post-impressionist painter Paul Cézanne, the prodigal son, was born in Aix-en-Provence in 1839 and loved the city. One of his favourite subjects to paint was the majestic Mont Sainte Victoire and he painted over 60 canvasses, obsessed with its every shade and colour. At the time, his art was not appreciated by the city but since 2007 which marked the 100th year of his death, the city has pushed him into the spotlight. The Tourist Office offers a multi-lingual guide, ‘In the footsteps of Cézanne’, a walking itinerary through the city to see some of the places he frequented, and you can also visit his studio.
