Art lovers, foodies, and historians can all find something they love about the French city of Aix-en-Provence as well as anyone who just wants to walk the beautiful and historic streets of a very traditional southern French town. Here are 20 of the unmissable attractions in Aix-en-Provence.
Visit the museum that houses a lot of Cézanne’s work (Aix was his hometown and where he lived for much of his life). It also has temporary exhibitions as well as art from the 15th to the 19th centuries.
Place d'Albertas
Aix is often called the “city of 1,000 fountains”, and this is one of its most charming and bizarre. The Albertas family built this square complete with phallic shapes around the balconies. The fountain was built much later but in the same style.
Fondation Vasarely
Museum
The foundation of Victor Vasarely is a great avant-garde art museum on the outskirts of Aix. It runs several exhibitions, workshops, and tours.
It’s often called the most beautiful street in Aix, and it has been one of the city’s focal points since the 12th century. It’s the main boulevard and the heart of the town.
Place des 4 Dauphins
This beautiful fountain is often a good first stop for people on their way to the Musée Granet.
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The most iconic of all of Aix’s fountains, the Rotonde is also the largest, the most centrally located, and where many meet before a night out or for a coffee.
Atelier de Cézanne
Art Gallery
Cézanne’s painting studio, where he painted his beloved Montagne Sainte-Victoire over and over again, has been left just as it was on the day he died.
Fontaine du Roi René
King René had a big influence on Aix and his statue at the top of the Cours Mirabeau is where people meet, eat their ice cream, and where dogs cool off in the summer months.
Aix’s Town Hall isn’t just where the Mayor works and where to find answers to administrative issues: it’s where the flower market takes place, where to people watch in one of the four bars, and where the Americans’ tanks rode through under the bell tower to liberate Aix at the end of World War 2.
Pavilion de Vendôme
Museum
This old, aristocratic-family home is now open to the public. Public cinema screenings take place every summer, and it’s where workers go to eat their lunch. Just don’t walk on the grass; it’s forbidden.
Legend has it that a local made a stand against the ruler of Aix and a tree magically sprang up in the same spot. The trees are still here as are lots of great restaurants who cool their wine in the fountain outside.
Rue d'Italie
This is the foodies’ main street in Aix. It’s full of delis, wine shops, cheese shops, and bakers. There are also restaurants that locals rave about.
The daily market takes place in this square every day of the year—without exception. Once the market closes at 1 pm, the street sweepers clean everything up and the bar tables go up until past midnight.
Covered in moss, this fountain is one of the most beloved in Aix because a warm water source feeds directly into it. It’s great to watch the steam come off during winter.
Place des Prêcheurs
This is another central artery in Aix that is currently being pedestrianised into a square surrounding the old courthouse. Another great place to people watch.
Hôtel Caumont used to be the town’s Conservatoire before it moved to new facilities. Now, the fully refurbished building houses temporary art exhibitions ranging from Marilyn Monroe photographs to the Italian Renaissance Masters.
Parc de la Torse
Park
Walk 10 minutes out of town and find families, joggers, and dog walkers in the Parc de la Torse. It runs along the Torse River, and it is a great place to picnic or take the kids to the playground.
English writer in France. Swapped a hectic life in the city of London for an easy-going southern French vibe. I still work just as hard but on my own terms and on my own time. I enjoy travelling, writing, working, hanging out with friends and family... and of course meeting the amazing people and seeing the wonderful things this country has to offer. www.alexledsom.com
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