Aix-en-Provence is a quiet provincial town. Provence
beaches of the Cote d'Azur, ski resorts, many attractions, fragrant wine and excellent cuisine. This is just a small list of what awaits a tourist who has descended from a plane that has landed at a French airport.
Introduction to France
France is a lot of regions, each of which has its own distinctive history, set of sights and unique dishes. local cuisine. You can relax here both in winter and in summer. In the hot season, tourists are waiting for the Cote d'Azur, and in frosty weather, resorts are invited french alps. Conventionally, France can be divided into two zones - excursion and resort:
- The first should include almost the entire region of Ile-de-France, widely famous Valley Loire, as well as many cities, among which Paris, Strasbourg, Le Havre, Orleans, Rouen and dozens of others stand out.
- Leadership among beach resorts takes Cote d'Azur, followed by the island of Corsica and the Atlantic coast. In winter, they mainly go to the Three Valleys and Porte du Soleil.
Aix en Provence
If you look at climate map cities of France, you can see that basically there is a temperate maritime climate. In the eastern regions, it is replaced by continental, and on the coast mediterranean sea- subtropical. Therefore, the weather in the regions varies - it is better to go to Paris in May or October, and June or September is suitable for visiting the French Riviera.
In Corsica, you can relax from May to October, but in August it will be quite hot. On the Alpine resorts skiing starts from November, but most of the snow here is in February.
Note! Ideal time for sightseeing trip according to the cities of France is the high season, when all the tourists travel to the Côte d'Azur. Yes, the coastal resorts are crowded, but the provincial hotels are almost empty, so it will be very easy to rent a room
Speaking of prices in French cities, the algorithm for their formation defies any logic. And this applies to both real estate and products. Having bought a loaf of bread in one store and going to another, standing across the road, you can see a completely different price. Bargaining is useless, this is possible only in the market. But this article will consider the nuances of rest not in the whole country, but only in one city called Aix-en-Provence (France).
Île-de-France region
A few words about hotels in Provence
This city is also called simply Aix (France). Provence is a popular region among tourists, so there are a lot of hotels here, but only a few are especially popular:
- The real spirit of Provence can be felt in Villa Gallici. Here you can feel real home comfort, service at the highest level, and the dishes prepared by the chef are beyond praise. Despite the fact that the hotel is located in the city center, there is no noise and bustle of the city. The cheapest room as of September 2018 costs EUR 300* per night.
- The best advertisement for Le Pigonnet is its guests. At various times P. Picasso, L. Kravitz, K. Eastwood and Catherine Deneuve stayed here. It has everything for a luxurious holiday, and the highlight is huge park. The minimum price for a room is 150 euros.
- The art hotel Aparthotel Adagio Aix-en-Provence Center is not as luxurious as the five-star hotels presented above, but it fully deserves its 4 stars. The room here is a fully equipped apartment with a bathroom and a kitchen where you can cook your meals. In the morning, the guest will be offered breakfast. The cost of the apartments is 100 euros.
Note! Another popular art hotel in Aix-en-Provence is the Appart’hotel Odalys Atrium. The cost for one night is 80 euros.
Among other worthy hotels in Provence, the five-star Renaissance Aix-en-Provence and the four-star Les Lodges Sainte-Victoire and Hôtel de Gantès are mentioned.
Five-star Renaissance Aix-en-Provence
Tourist route through the city of Aix-en-Provence
Tourists who have visited Aix-en-Provence (France) will be offered several options for routes for an introductory tour.
- A number of historical routes.
- Route connected with the life and work of Paul Cezanne and his family.
- Visiting the mansion, workshop and places where Cezanne painted.
- Tour of the suburbs of Aix-en-Provence.
Note! The first three routes of the city of Aix-en-Provence can be both on foot and by transport. The latter is carried out only by car.
Things to do in Aix-en-Provence
You should start your walk in Provence from the so-called Old Town, located to the north main square, and Mirabeau Boulevard. Here stands the church of St. Madeleine, which was painted by Van Lo and Rubens, as well as the preserved facade of the medieval town hall and the Cathedral of the Holy Savior, which was painted by Nicolas Froment himself in the 15th century.
Continuing your journey, you should look into the archbishop's palace of Ansier-Archeves, which houses the Museum of Tapestries created in Beauvier and the Museum of the Old Town.
Note! Saint-Jean-de-Malte is the first Gothic church in Provence. Previously, it belonged to the Order of the Hospitallers.
After seeing the sights of the Old Town, you can return to Mirabeau Boulevard, where there are also a lot of interesting things. For example, the creations of the sculptor Pierre-Jean David D'Angers, who lived in the 19th century. His statue of King René the Good is a real decoration of the square. No less interesting creation is the Rotunda fountain.
To the south of the boulevard is the Mazaran quarter, where the elite houses of aristocrats were located four centuries ago. Passing to Saint-Jean-de-Malte Square, you can get to the Granet Museum, where among the many exhibits you can find objects from the city of Antremont - the capital of the Ligures and paintings by Marius Granet, after whom the museum is named.
Cultural Center La Cité du livre
In the former workshop of Cezanne, there is an Atelier, where you can look at the tools that the master worked with, as well as unfinished canvases. But the most impressive is the atmosphere in the room: it seems that the artist himself will now come in and continue working on another masterpiece.
Upon completion of the inspection of the workshop, you should look at la Place d’Albertas, after which you can safely go to the unique architectural museum complex, Vasarely Foundation. The exposition, assembled by Victor Vasarely, included his own works, thanks to which a new architectural and graphic style was developed.
All connoisseurs contemporary art must visit Cultural Center La Cité du livre of Provence is a media complex located in an abandoned but reconstructed match factory. Lovers of contemporary cinema and literature flock here from all over France to discuss new works. In addition, various exhibitions, performances, film screenings, and lectures are held here. In mid-autumn, the traditional festival la Fête du livre is held. But this is not the end of sightseeing and interesting places Aix-en-Provence, because the surroundings of the city remained unexplored, which will be discussed below.
Other places in Aix-en-Provence worth mentioning
There are no less attractions in the vicinity of the city of Aix-en-Provence (France). Among the main ones, the following should be mentioned:
- Mount Saint-Victoire, which Cezanne called his muse.
- 14th century castle in Vauvenargues, where the tomb of Pablo Picasso is located.
- The 12th century Torone Monastery is located near the city of Karse.
- Entrecasto is a village that seems to have come out of the Middle Ages. All of it is a monument of the historical and architectural landscape of the 11th century.
Those wishing to try black truffles should visit the town of Op, and fans of eco-tourism are waiting for fans of eco-tourism in the Var department. In a word, Provence has entertainment for every taste, so traveling through its lands is guaranteed to bring a lot of pleasure and unforgettable experiences.
*Prices are current as of October 2018.
North of Marseille.
Aix-en-Provence was founded in 123 BC. Roman consul Gaius Sextus Calvinus.
In the 5th century Aix-en-Provence was conquered by the Visigoths, then the city passed to the Franks and Lombards, until in 731 it was captured by the Saracens, and in 737 it was liberated by Charles Martell, who went down in history as the liberator of Europe from the Arab invaders.
In the Middle Ages, Aix-en-Provence was the capital of Provence.
And, starting from the XII century, it became a city of art and education.
In the XV century. Aix-en-Provence passed to the French kingdom.
Now Aix-en-Provence is one of the most beautiful and elegant cities in Provence, a rich, bourgeois city with beautiful architecture, numerous cafes and restaurants, which attracts crowds of tourists and vacationers, in which a cheerful student life is seething and various cultural events are held.
Wide Mirabeau Boulevard (cours Mirabeau) was founded in 1650, it is surrounded by old houses (XVI-XVIII centuries) and decorated with fountains, lush trees create a green tunnel and form a shady coolness.
Fountain on Mirabeau Boulevard. Aix-en-Provence. France.
Boulevard Mirabeau. Aix-en-Provence. France.
Among the numerous cafes and restaurants, Deux Garcons (house 53), built in 1792, stands out. Paul Cezanne, Emile Zola and Ernes Hemingway liked to visit it. And nearby, in house number 55, the childhood years of the famous artist Paul Cezanne passed.
Passage Agar.
On the other side of the Mirabeau Boulevard is the Mazarin quarter. Here in the second half of the XVII century. was the residence of the brother of Cardinal Mazarin and built their magnificent mansions to know Aix. Now there are chic shops, art galleries, antique shops.
On the other side of the boulevard, a bright, noisy and colorful market unfolds, the epicenter of which is Place de Verdun.
Aix-en-Provence. France.
Aix-en-Provence. France.
Narrow streets lead to a cozy square with a clock tower built in 1661. The small square is lined with cafe tables. Fountain installed in the center (1756)
Aix-en-Provence. France.
Aix-en-Provence. France.
Nearby is another charming square - lace des cardeurs, decorated with an Italian-style esplanade and an original fountain, built in 1977 by Jean Amado.
Aix-en-Provence. France.
Aix-en-Provence. France.
Up the busy rue Gaston de Saport you can go to Cathedral located in the former Roman Forum. The first cathedral on this site was built in the 5th century. Since then, the cathedral has been rebuilt several times, until the 17th century, when it received a Gothic portal. Inside the cathedral, works of art of the 15th-17th centuries are stored, among them a triptych (XV century), depicting King René the Good and his wife (René the Good became the Duke of Provence in 1434), it is also worth paying attention to the font of the 5th century.
There are many universities located in the city, this tradition originates from Louis II of Anjou, who in 1409 gave the universities privileges.
Traditional flatbread from Provence - fougasse- baked from wheat flour with cheese.
Fougasse. Aix-en-Provence. France.
Interesting local sweets - Calisson, which are made from candied almonds and fruits.
The Théâtre du Jes-de-Paume is a small old building from the middle of the 18th century. The Théâtre du Jes-de-Paume is a cozy Italian theater with 493 seats.
The theater was built in an abandoned building of the former royal tennis court, where, according to legend, the king himself - the Sun Louis XIV - loved to play. Although the building belongs to XVIII century, its facade and interior are simple and laconic, devoid of pompous decoration and pompous decor.
In 1998 the building was closed for renovation. In May 2000, the renovated theater reopened its doors to visitors.
Coordinates: 43.52721400,5.45357500
Cathedral in Aix-en-Provence
The cathedral was built in the 12th century, but since then it has undergone a series of restoration works and reconstructions, and therefore only part of the baptistery has survived to this day. The construction of the facade lasted for many years, and was completely completed only at the beginning of the 16th century. Amazing not only for its size, but also for its beauty architectural solutions, this cathedral has long been popular among tourists. Inside you can see the famous triptych "Burning Bush", created by Nicolas Froment in the 15th century. The cloister of the cathedral, built in the 12th century to house the canons, is decorated with four columns located at the corners, which depict the four religious symbols of the evangelists: an angel, a lion, a calf and an eagle.
Coordinates: 43.53194400,5.44722200
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Town hall in Aix-en-Provence
Built in the sixteenth century, the town hall with a Gothic clock tower from the 16th century is one of the most interesting sights of Aix-en-Provence.
The foundation of the town hall has been preserved since Roman times. The tower is decorated with a bust of Louis XIII, erected in honor of the monarch's visit to Aix. The architecture of the town hall is inspired by Italian buildings, the sculptural decoration belongs to the masters Rambo and Fosse. The facade was richly decorated, but most of the decoration was destroyed during the Revolution. The doors made of carved wood and the courtyard have been preserved.
On the first floor of the town hall, in the main hall, paintings on historical subjects, portraits of the counts of Provence and French kings are exhibited.
Coordinates: 43.51666700,5.44911600
In the city of Aix-en-Provence, there are markets three times a week - on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, but the largest market is held, of course, on a day off.
In the markets you can always find lavender oil, various varieties of olives, tapenades (pastes from olives, anchovies and capers), pastis, Marseille soap, Provencal sweets and other products and things that are made in this city. In the market, you can buy local cheeses, mostly goat, the most famous of which is Banon cheese, wrapped in chestnut leaves.
The Provence market is not only a place where you can buy food, things and household items, but also a place for communication, discussion of news and gossip. It is always crowded, fun, noisy and fragrant.
The city is also the center of Provencal antiques: rare antiques are sold here, which are “chased” by connoisseurs of rarities and collectors from all over the world.
Coordinates: 43.52900300,5.44786700
Fountains of Aix-en-Provence
Aix-en-Provence is known as the "city of water" or "the city of a thousand fountains", and this is not surprising - after all, in almost every square of the city you can find water, and sometimes even unusual fountains are made in the back streets and on the walls. All fountains are made in completely different styles and built in different eras.
The Romans, who founded the city, discovered cold and hot springs here, which made it possible to supply the city with water and open Roman baths here. To date, in Aix-en-Provence, there are several hundred fountains - ancient and modern.
The fountain in the Place d'Albert is one of the most attractive places in the city for tourists. His metal jewelry was cast by the students of the School of Crafts in 1912. The value of the fountain gives an attractive architectural ensemble the square itself, built in six years at the behest of Jean-Baptiste d'Albert.
Coordinates: 43.52780200,5.44875200
Monument to Paul Cezanne
The monument is a full-length figure of the artist, standing with arms crossed on a cane and a hat pulled down over his eyes - this is how Paul Cezanne preferred to wear his headdress. This monument was erected against the backdrop of evergreen plantations in the park, where the painter liked to walk. For a long time, Paul Cezanne lived away from home, but, returning to his native Aix-en-Provence in 1886, he spent the last 20 years of his life without a break here, enjoying the beauties of his native city.
As one of the most prominent representatives of post-impressionism of his period, Paul Cezan immortalized his name with such works as "Girl at the Piano", "In the Rooms" and "Tannhäuser Overture". Art connoisseurs from the most different countries visit this monument, paying tribute to the talent of the painter.
Coordinates: 43.54058500,5.44704400
Club Spartacus
Spartacus Club is a famous French electronic music club located between Aix-en-Provence and Marseille.
The interior of the club is made in the Roman style, which corresponds to its name.
The club is famous among the French and visitors from other countries. It is famous for its amazing parties that are remembered for a long time.
The club is open on Fridays and Saturdays, as well as on some public holidays.
Coordinates: 43.44126600,5.37999300
Workshop of Paul Cezanne
Admirers of the work of Paul Cezanne tend to go where you can feel the presence of the artist himself. In a small town in Aix-en-Provence, Cezanne set up his workshop, which served him as a refuge, inspiration, and place of work. Dozens of works written here, in a quiet, sun-drenched corner of France, are now kept in the largest museums in the world.
Entering the studio, the first thing we see is a shelf along the entire western wall, a table, a drawer, low stairs, a high easel, a sofa, several chairs - objects that became the heroes of his still lifes. All of them immerse visitors into the closed world of the artist's soul. Each item complements each other. They continue to live, keeping the memory of the Master.
Thanks to Marcel Provence, the owner of the workshop after the death of Cezanne, which he bought from the artist's son, Paul, the workshop remained in the same form as during the life of the great master.
Coordinates: 43.53842700,5.44627800
Grand Theater of Provence
The Grand Théâtre de Provence is a young but already very popular musical theater in the region.
The Grand Théâtre de Provence was inaugurated on June 29, 2007, and the famous opera Valkyrie by Richard Wagner was the first to be performed on the stage of the newly-made theater.
The amazing building of the young theater deserves special attention, which does not look like a theater building in the traditional sense. Take at least its shape, which resembles either a funnel, or a flask, or a key - everyone is free to interpret it in their own way.
It is also noteworthy that the theater is located below the level of the street on which it is located.
The theater has been the main theater for the French Youth Orchestra since its foundation.
Coordinates: 43.52608800,5.44069300
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