Located in the south of France, Aix-en-Provence dresses in a special light, with many sunny days and a great climate. This light and color of Provence is what attracted painters like Cézanne, who was inspired by this beautiful city in many of his works. A very beautiful and welcoming city, far from excessively touristy and crowded places.
Aix-en-Provence is the ideal place to discover the friendliest France and romantic. A charming town with many corners to discover. The perfect place to relax while enjoying the best weather and wonderful landscapes. Discover everything you can see and do in this city near Marseille.
Follow in the footsteps of the painter Cézanne
It is not possible to visit Aix-en-Provence without wanting to see the sites of its most famous character, the painter Cézanne. Cézanne dedicated many of his works to portraying spaces in the city, as he was in love with that light of Aix-en-Provence. He was born in the rue de l'Ópera and died in that of Boulegon. One of the places that are usually visited is the Cézanne Workshop, where he painted every day from 1902 to 1906. A place where works were carried out that today are exhibited in the best museums in the world. A really nice and quiet place that could inspire anyone, although it is not possible to take pictures inside. We continue through the Bastida del Jas de Bouffan, a place familiar to Cézanne where his first works began and a home for him. In the Bibemus Quarries we can see the intense ocher color that fascinated the painter on the outskirts of the city.
Museums in Aix-en-Provence
In addition to the places where the painter Cézanne was inspired, in Aix-en-Provence we can find many other museums to visit. The Granet MuseumFor example, it is located in a beautiful building, in the old palace of Malta. It is undoubtedly one of the most important in the city, since it contains works that go from the XNUMXth to the XNUMXth century with authors such as Cézanne or Rembrandt. At the Vasarely Foundation we will find different exhibitions throughout the year. At the Hotel de Gallifet we will find an art house in the Mazarin neighborhood, in an XNUMXth century mansion with exhibitions of all kinds. The Planetárium is the perfect place for families, as it has activities for the little ones.
Saint-Sauveur Cathedral
Remember that Aix-en-Provence is built on a ancient roman city. The Saint-Sauveur Cathedral is its most important religious building, and it was built precisely on the temple of Apollo, between the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries, so the building has various styles. The most prominent styles, both in the entrance and in the interior, are the mixture of Romanesque and Gothic.
Main squares
La Plaza d'Albertas It is one of the most beautiful in the whole city. A place that seems like a corner of peace in a city with narrow streets. With a central fountain, it is flanked by four palaces. In addition, we must not forget that this city is also known as that of the thousand fountains, so it is likely that we will almost always find a fountain in the squares that we see. The Plaza de la Mairie is another must-see. With its respective fountain and some buildings that must be seen, such as the Town Hall or the Clock Tower, with its astronomical clock. On Sundays they put on a second-hand book market, and there are several cafes with terraces to take a break.
Cours Mirabeau
Touring this area of the city is one of the most interesting things to do. An avenue flanked by cozy bars and restaurants, and by palaces of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries that make it one of the most popular places to spend the day in the city. It is also the space that connects the Mazarin neighborhood, which is the newest area, with the Ville Comptale, which is the old area.
How to get to Aix-en-Provence
Getting to this area of southern France is very simple, and we have several alternatives. If we arrive by plane, which is usually the most common, the nearest airport is Marseille, which is 25 kilometers away. Another quick and easy option is to use the high-speed train, whose station is 15 kilometers away. It has bus lines that connect with the city easily. If we arrive by car, the motorways are the best option due to their ease, although they are somewhat expensive.
Where to stay in Aix-en-Provence
If we want to know the city of Aix-en-Provence in depth, we can stay in the old area, or near the Cours Mirabeau, a popular area where there are many hotels and where to find decent accommodation easily. If we want even more tranquility, we can bet on the surrounding towns, although we must always look at the transport links to see if it is worth it.