I’ve just discovered Aix-en-Provence! After more than 7 years on the Côte d’Azur and having heard only good things about Aix, I can’t explain why it took me so long to get to this adorable city. But for whatever hopeless reasons I failed to get there, I have finally rectified the situation and have at last visited this gorgeous, graceful, cultured place. Aix is artistic and cosmopolitan, bourgeois and yet full of students, urbane, refined and very very beautiful. Come visit Aix-en-Provence with me.
Aix was founded by the Romans as a spa city, and although water is no longer so vital to its well-being, much of its charm lies in the many fountains found throughout the town. There are 17 in total ranging from enormous to tiny, ancient to contemporary. The main street, elegant Cours Mirabeau, separates the old town from the newer (17th century) Quartier Mazarin. Cours Mirabeau is lined with imposing plane trees (very severely pollarded when I visited) and grand mansions, most of which on the north side are bustling cafés and banks or lawyers’ offices on the south.
Nowadays Aix has a reputable university and a formidable legal reputation with France’s biggest appeals court outside Paris. It is home to one of the most important classical music festivals in Europe which takes place every summer attracting some of the most reputed musicians in the classical world. It is also heavily associated with the painter Cézanne who was born, studied and spent much of his life in Aix.
Aix-en-Provence is small and compact, perfect for walking around, soaking up the atmosphere and enjoying its beauty. There are plenty of lovely cafés to spend time in over a coffee or glass of rosé (from the surrounding vineyards) whether on the elegant Cours Mirabeau or in one of the smaller, tucked away streets in the vieille ville. There are also several markets for food, flowers, arts and crafts and bric-a brac depending on the day. It’s an easy day trip from Lou Messugo, taking just over an hour and a half from us to the centre of town. I know I won’t wait another 7 years to go back and explore further this totally lovely place; I’ve fallen completely under its charm and can’t wait to return.
I hope you enjoyed this little taster of Aix-en-Provence. Have you been there? Would you like to go?
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Why not PIN this for later!
I loved Aix! Can’t believe it took you so long to visit(although you are spoilt for choice where you live). It’s such a beautiful place to wander around and soak up the atmosphere. I enjoyed the markets and it is perfect for going on to explore the rest of Provence. Thanks for linking up to #citytripping and helping me recall fond memories of our trip!
Your photos have made it look beautiful. I’ve visited Aix, but only briefly, and would love to return.
It’d be great if you lived down this way, but you’ve only just moved to Germany!
Good memories 🙂
It’s time to return Cathy!
I don’t know why it took me so long!
It’s beautiful!!!! I wouldn’t be able to wait 7 years to explore that place! It’s just breathtaking!
Gorgeous photos – takes me straight back. I haven’t been to Aix for over 10 years (probably closer 20!) but I remember how lovely it was strolling around the streets. Thanks for joining up with #citytripping
Lovely! I visited about 10 years ago and remember all the lovely shops. xx
Aix-en-Provence is on my list! Don’t know when I’ll get around to it…but I’m really hoping it’s when I get to live in the south of France! Great post, Phoebe, and fun photos! #citytripping
yes Mari, since this first visit I’ve been a few more times!
and have you been back since?
It looks beautiful. I wanted to stop at the market stall and buy one of those hats!
A really pretty town with history and a famous artists too, I hope to get there myself one day.
Thanks for joining in #TimeTraveller I’ve really enjoyed getting to know this part of France and admiring your wonderful photos. Hope to see you again soon.
I’ve visited an awful lot of places in France, but never Aix. In fact, Provence is an area I don’t know so well (yet). Your blog is giving me inspiration to hop on down to find out more!
It’s hard to believe this is a real place! The photos look like lovely paintings!
Héhéhé j’ai suivi tes traces puisque j’y étais en octobre !! On a des photos en commun …La fontaine moussue un peu plus moussue , le ciel bleu , l’ocre des belles maisons bourgeoises, la foule des marchés colorés et l’impression qu’il y fait bon vivre…
Ugh! These photos are exactly how I see France and all of Europe really. It makes me miss Europe so much!! This town looks simply gorgeous. Why is there a plaque with Cezanne on it?
What a lovely, charming place!
Wow, I am really surprised this was your first visit to Aix-en-Provence! We came on a day trip and found it to be a pleasant leafy town full of elegant buildings, nice cafes, and lots of international students (and stores!). We visited on one of the bigger market days so there was some extra action going on in giant square.
Looks divine. I have always wanted to go to Aix and for some reason it continues to elude me! Was meant to go there a while back but the trip got cancelled and we ended up in Arles instead! Your pictures make me want to remedy that omission!
What a super place to visit – even after all of that time. Send me some of that fancy le petit will you….
Absolutely charming region indeed! Hope to make it there this year too 🙂
Phoebe, seriously, 7 years to visit such a gorgeous place :)?! What Aix-en-Provence has to do with Le Petit Marseillais – we love this brand. They just started selling it in Croatia, but we used to get a year’s worth of products from nos amis francais for 10 years that we are back in Croatia. Sorry it took a spotlight from Aix-en-Provence, but I got too excited when I saw the magic words on your photo.
Catherine is right about the cathedral. It’s as much for the amazing things in it – especially the cloisters and the Nicolas Froment triptych, on which the cathedral people run an excellent video to enable you to get the best out of it – as for the building itself, lovely as that is. Amye Mae should be sure to include it in her wanderings.
Thanks Hannah! 🙂
I’m glad I inspired you Hannah!
But Italy is so full of gorgeous places too…the world is a beautiful place 🙂
Sounds like a good plan Carly 🙂
Aix is only a few kms north of Marseille and so very different, you really must visit.
Thanks for mentioning the cathedral Catherine, we didn’t see it as we ran out of time but I’ll go back soon and be sure to visit.
Yes Tiina, there is a university but it still retains a small town feel (in the best way).
I’d agree that it is a must see place, it’s just so charming
Thanks Seychelles Mama!
Aix is definitely on my list of places to visit in France and your photos are beautiful. We are heading to Marseille again at the end of the year so fingers crossed we can spend a few days exploring some of the other delightful towns close by and also Aix! x
Wow what a beautiful little town! Gorgeous photographs too. I’d love to visit one day.
Yes I have been to Aix and like you I loved it. But I want to go back when those pollarded plane trees have put on a lot more leaves. It really is a place to just amble and it does have the most wonderful cathedral, not to be missed.
What a charming little town! Well, not so little… Isn’t there a university?
I had heard such great things about Aix-en-Provence and this is just adding to my belief that it’s a must see place! It looks so beautiful there! Like you pointed out it seems like the perfect place to just walk and absorb what the city has to offer!
Wow gorgeous! It looks so FRENCH. Thank you for sharing!!
I’ve never been, but it looks like a lovely place. Very charming!
this place looks amazing, like a proper holiday place
Pheobe, thanks so much for the reply! We’re hoping to stay on a vineyard in Burgundy but I’ll be sure to take you up on that wine recommendation. I’ll take a look around here for more Nice info!
This place looks so so beautiful!! Stunning photos!
I’d recommend spending a night and 2 full days or 2 nights if you can though there are so many other wonderful places to visit in the area that it really depends how long you have on your trip altogether. For me Aix is a walking and soaking-it-up town. There are museums but I haven’t visited any. One nice thing you could do would be to visit a rosé vineyard and taste the local wine. If you haven’t got the time for that or have done enough in Burgundy (!) then at least make sure you order Côteaux d’Aix-en-Provence rosé in a café! Do take a look around my blog for further ideas of things to do in the Nice area and don’t hesitate to get back in touch if you want any more information. Have fun! 🙂
Thanks for sharing this beautiful spot! We are planning to stop through on our way from Burgundy to Nice – how long would you recommend spending in Aix-en-Provence? Any particular recommendations for our short time there? Merci! 🙂
It looks like a lovely place and I somewhere I would love to visit one day 🙂 x
What beautiful pictures and a beautiful place! I haven’t travelled much unfortunately but it is something I’ve always been interested in. As soon as the kids are a bit older I can’t wait to explore and have adventures across the world!
Gorgeous. It looks like such a charming town. Every time I see gorgeous pictures of France I always question why I moved to Italy and not France!!! Found via #traveltuesdays
I haven’t been! It looks absolutely gorgeous, definitely my cup of tea! We used to do a lot of travelling in France when I was younger, this has made me want to go back!! Xx
This looks stunning, what a beautiful little place! Your posts always make me want to travel to the South of France, it’s definitely on my to-go list xx
It certainly seems to be a charming city! Thanks for sharing!
We are so on the same wavelength – this is exactly the post I have planned for tomorrow (albeit from Normandy!). Nice pictures too 🙂