The Best Spa Hotels in Aix-en-Provence, France

In the heart of Aix, this four-star hotel and spa serves as a serene spot away from the busyness of the city. Guests benefit from free access to two wellness areas: the Sensory Spa includes a Finnish sauna, a jacuzzi, a gym and a heated outdoor pool, while the neighbouring 280sqm (3,000sqft) Thermes Sextius Spa is the largest spa offering in the region. Hotel guests get 20 percent off treatments, with everything from anti-cellulite massages to mud body wraps on offer.

Settle in at this upscale lodge, and feel the calming effects of the Provençal countryside. The hotel is just outside of town, around 15 minutes by car to the centre. The rooms feature chic contemporary decor in neutral tones, with views out over the surrounding gardens and Sainte-Victoire Mountain. Further your state of relaxation with a trip to the spa, where you’ll find two treatment booths, a sauna, a hammam, a heated indoor pool, a heated open-air pool, a gym, a nail parlour, a herbal tearoom and a terrace with a view over the park. The treatment list has been curated by Cinq Mondes Spa Paris, with massages, facials and body wraps among the offerings.

Make this smart villa your base for your Aix break, and you’re guaranteed to feel a sense of calm from the get-go. The five-star hotel, just moments from the picturesque Cours Mirabeau boulevard in the centre of town, includes 34 beautifully appointed rooms and suites inspired by the grandeur of 18th-century Provence. Let your cares slip away with a dip in the outdoor heated pool, or check into the spa for a massage in the private treatment room. Some of the more specialised treatments include an Ayurvedic massage and one dedicated to pregnant women. The spa’s in-house skincare line comes from organic beauty brand Dr Hauschka.

Lap up magnificent views and a sense of calm at this magnificent, 18th-century chateau. The hotel, which is less than 15 minutes from Aix, offers 14 rooms and suites decked out with slick contemporary furnishings. Think bold wall hangings, whitewashed walls and quirky light fixtures. Along with the photogenic design and a Michelin-starred restaurant, another highlight of this hotel is the spa, which sits amid the sprawling grounds. Here, you will find four treatment rooms, including one for couples, a hammam, a sauna, a sensory shower and a gym. The spa menu offers a range of options, with an anti-cellulite treatment, hot-stone massage and bikini wax among the mix. From May to September, there is also an outdoor pool available to hotel guests.

Enveloped by greenery, this villa delights with theatrical Provençal and Florentine influences. There are 17 rooms and suites with views over the hotel’s verdant grounds; some have private terraces. An accompanying 18th-century-style pavilion by the hotel swimming pool is home to an attractive spa area, where you can skip between a jacuzzi, sauna, cryotherapy chamber and tanning deck or work off last night’s dinner at the gym. There are also treatment rooms with a wide range of options to choose from and a menu specifically designed for children.

Indulge in a little self-love at this charming historic townhouse in the centre of Aix, which was once owned by a high-class courtesan and antique collector. There are just four rooms, with one named after master flirt Mademoiselle Henriette Reboul. Striking features include oval freestanding tubs in the bedrooms, body wash infused with ingredients from Provence, and ornate venetian mirrors. The icing on the cake is the basement grotto-like spa area, which features a heated pool, shimmering mosaics and a hammam.

Amid the countryside and less than 30 minutes from Aix, this slick lair is an Instagrammer’s dream, with art and design at the heart of affairs. From the 28 villa suites to the hotel’s destination dining spots, the attention to detail carries through. This goes for the spa, too, where details include natural stone sinks, contemporary stained-glass windows in the yoga studio and a photogenic spiral staircase leading guests into the space. Facilities include seven treatment rooms – including one for couples – a hammam, a sauna, a floating bed and a gym. During scrubs, facials and massages, a range of organic Provençal products are used, punctuated with jasmine, lavender, rose, olive and apricot scents.

On the picturesque Rue du 4 Septembre, this upscale boutique hotel prides itself on being a unique stay in the centre of town. There are just four rooms, and all feature unique decoration, with a quirky sense of playfulness being the running theme. The Passione Suite features a large oval freestanding tub, which makes for an ideal spot to soak after a day out exploring. Alternatively, hotel guests can use the facilities at the neighbouring Spa SR Mazarine for free. The superbly appointed spa, set over 400sqm (4,306sqft), includes eight treatment rooms (single and double), a heated swimming pool, a hammam and seductive relaxation areas. The treatments make use of a range of luxury spa products from brands including Cinq Mondes Spa Paris and Biologique Recherche.