Markets of Provence.
A city of many, and often the best, markets in Provence.
The most famous and main one, of course, on the square Place Richelme . It is located among ancient houses in the shade of plane trees, and is easily recognizable from photographs on the Internet. Although, even out of sight, it will attract you with its smells: ... To list what is sold here, you will need a complete encyclopedia of Provençal cuisine. And to list what can be prepared - a book. Despite its popularity, it has all the attributes and spirit of a regular market in Provence - in a good way. An interesting detail: prices here are written in chalk on signs, rather than with a marker on paper. And they look better this way. Almost the only one in Provence, it is open daily from 8-00 to 13-00.
Aix is a very bookish city (and this is what completely charmed me). In a widely known center of Citedulivre Meetings, presentations and literary festivals are constantly taking place. And the book market is located on Place de l'Hotel de Ville .
Bonus: in any markets, shops and cafes, do not pass by Callisons . These are branded "Eksovskie" small diamond-shaped delicacies made from almond crumbs and dried fruits. On top they are covered with chocolate (white or black) glaze. By the way, every first Sunday of September is the day of distribution of calissons - free throughout Aix.
Aix-en-Provence and Paul Cezanne.
I miss Ax. When I'm not there, everything is in vain... - Cezanne lived in Provence and lived in Provence. Walking route in the city in the footsteps of Cezanne" is marked by large nails driven into the asphalt with the letter "C".
Pablo Picasso, in adulthood, purchased the 14th-century Chateau de Vauvenargues near Aix. " I just bought myself Cezanne mountains", said Picasso. It's about grief Sainte-Victoire. She was a real inspiration for Paul Cézanne and is featured in many of his paintings. One of his favorite routes was Bibemu area. Carrières de Bibémus – about 13 km from the city center. From there you have a breathtaking view of the mountain. And no tourists around!
Aix-en-Provence mercilessly exploits the memory of Cézanne. “He was born here, he ate here, he smoked there. He walked through this place twice, and lay down on a bench over there”... With all respect and admiration, do not let yourself be completely immersed in the life and past of the great artist.
Sights of Aix. What is this?
We did not post a list of attractions for the hundredth time. Moreover, there is a very good website of the Aix-en-Provence Tourism Office, and in Russian as well.
The main attraction is its charm. To see Cezanne, you have to look at Sainte-Victoire. To see Aix-en-Provence, look around. Even if you just spend half a day in some cafe, in some small square, “under the plane tree by the fountain,” you will already see the main thing. And, of course, students. In a strange way, youth has taken over this antique city. Attractions include each of the nearly thousand fountains. This is Cours Mirabeau, "the most beautiful street in France." Squares in front of universities and lyceums.
Just streets.
Just Provence.
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Aix-en-Provence invites you to share the pleasures of southern life: walks in the Mediterranean air, holidays and carnivals. In this city, all senses are heightened, there is a riot of colors around, there is an abundance of sunny fruits and vegetables in the markets, the smells of Provençal dishes and the gentle whisper of ancient fountains are everywhere. Aix-en-Provence is an ideal destination for foodies and culture lovers, couples and large families.
A must visit in Aix
- Cezanne's places
Cezanne Studio
The presence of the great impressionist is clearly evident here. Numerous paintings, materials for drawing and creating his latest still lifes - all the things dear to the artist are collected in the Cezanne Studio.
Possession of Jas de Bouffant
This property was bequeathed to Paul Cézanne's father in 1859. From 1866 to 1895 Cezanne painted 36 canvases and 17 watercolors here, on which he depicted a house and a farm, a grove and a chestnut alley, a pond and statues...
During the tour you will be shown all the places from which Cezanne painted his numerous paintings.
Bibemyus Quarry
It was at this abandoned quarry in the period from 1895 to 1904. painted 11 paintings and 16 watercolors. He depicted mainly “stones” with interesting geometric shapes. It was these paintings that gave rise to Cubism.
Be sure to visit: the unique collection “From Cezanne to Giacometti.” Panoramic exhibition of 20th century art featuring 19 masterpieces Giacometti, paintings by Leger, Mondrian, Klee, Stael, Picasso, Cezanne...
Boulevard Mirabeau
Boulevard Mirabeau is a real green tunnel, surrounded by fountains and houses from the 17th and 18th centuries. It is Mirabeau, created in 1650, that is considered the heart of the city.
- Magnificent fountains
Water has always been part of the life and history of Aix-en-Provence. One has only to remember the Roman baths of Sextius, which are still in operation.
- Cathedral of the Holy Savior
The cathedral was built from the 5th to the 18th centuries. Its hallmark is architectural diversity. The baptistery was created in the 5th century, and the gallery or cloister, with its calm and elegant forms, dates back to the 17th century.
New quarter "Provencal Alleys" with numerous boutiques. The National Center of Choreography and the Grand Theater of Provence are also located here. "Provencal Alleys" opened in June 2007. This new shopping and cultural quarter attracts many visitors during the day for shopping, and in the evening for performances at the Grand Theater of Provence or performances of the Preljocaj Ballet.
Specialties: calissons, santons (figurines of saints), AOC Coteaux d'Aix wines
Wines and olive oil you can also buy from the markets.
Thermal station: a temple of modern architecture, located in the very center of the city, dedicated to the cult of water and healing.
Casino. Owned by the PARTOUCHE group, it is the ideal place to play roulette, blackjack, 30/40, slot machines...Performances and concerts also take place here.
City tours
Beaches of the Cote d'Azur, ski resorts, many attractions, aromatic wine and excellent cuisine. This is just a small list of what awaits a tourist who gets off the plane landing at a French airport.
Introductory information about France
France is made up of many regions, each of which has its own unique history, set of attractions and unique local cuisine. You can relax here both in winter and summer. In the hot season, tourists are welcomed by the Cote d'Azur, and in frosty weather, the resorts of the French Alps invite them. Conventionally, France can be divided into two zones – excursion and resort:
- The first includes almost the entire Ile-de-France region, the well-known Loire Valley, as well as many cities, among which Paris, Strasbourg, Le Havre, Orleans, Rouen and dozens of others stand out.
- The leader among beach resorts is the Cote d'Azur, followed by the island of Corsica and the Atlantic coast. In winter they mainly go to the Three Valleys and Portes du Soleil.
Aix en Provence
If you look at the climate map of French cities, you will notice that the climate is mostly temperate-marine. In the eastern regions it gives way to continental, and on the Mediterranean coast - to subtropical. Therefore, the weather varies in the regions - it is better to go to Paris in May or October, and June or September is suitable for visiting the French Riviera.
You can vacation in Corsica from May to October, but in August it will be quite hot. People ski in Alpine resorts starting in November, but the most snow here is in February.
Note! The ideal time for a sightseeing tour of the cities of France is the high season, when all tourists travel to the Cote d'Azur. Yes, the coastal resorts are crowded, but provincial hotels are almost empty, so renting a room will be very easy
By the way, about 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 one across the street, you can see a completely different price. There is no use in bargaining; this is only possible in the market. But this article will examine the nuances of recreation not throughout the country, but only in one city called Aix-en-Provence (France).
Region Ile-de-France
A few words about hotels in Provence
This city is also simply called Aix (France). Provence is a popular region among tourists, so there are quite a lot of hotels here, but only a few are particularly popular:
- The true spirit of Provence can be felt at Villa Gallici. There is a real homely feeling here, the service is at the highest level, and the dishes prepared by the chef are beyond all praise. Despite the fact that the hotel is located in the city center, there is no noise or bustle of the city. The cheapest room as of September 2018 costs 300 euros* 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. There is everything for a luxurious holiday, and the highlight is the huge park. The minimum room price 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 prepare meals. In the morning, the guest will be offered breakfast. The cost of the apartment 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.
Other worthy hotels in Provence include the five-star Renaissance Aix-en-Provence and four-star Les Lodges Sainte-Victoire and Hôtel de Gantès.
Five-star Renaissance Aix-en-Provence
Tourist route around the city of Aix-en-Provence
Tourists visiting Aix-en-Provence (France) will be offered several route options for an introductory tour.
- A number of historical routes.
- A route related to the life and work of Paul Cézanne and his family.
- Visit to 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 either on foot or by transport. The latter is carried out only by car.
Aix-en-Provence attractions worth visiting
You should start your walk around Provence from the so-called Old Town, located north of the main square, and Mirabeau Boulevard. Here stands the Church of Sainte-Madeleine, which was painted by Van Lo and Rubens, as well as the preserved façade of the medieval town hall and the Cathedral of Saint Savior, which was painted by Nicolas Froment himself in the 15th century.
Continuing your journey, you should look into the archbishop's palace of Ancier-Archeves, where the Museum of Tapestries created in Beauviers and the Museum of the Old Town are located.
Note! Saint-Jean-de-Malte is the first church in Provence built in the Gothic style. 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 is also a lot of interesting things. For example, the creations of the sculptor Pierre-Jean David D’Angers, who lived in the 19th century. Its statue of King René the Good is a real decoration of the square. An equally interesting creation is the Rotunda fountain.
To the south of the boulevard is the Mazaran quarter, where four centuries ago there were elite houses of aristocrats. Going to Place Saint-Jean-de-Malte, you can get to the Granet Museum, where among the many exhibits you can find objects from the city of Entremont - the capital of the Ligurians and paintings by Marius Granet, after whom the museum is named.
Cultural center La Cité du livre
In Cézanne's former workshop there is an Atelier where you can see the tools the master used, as well as unfinished canvases. But the most impressive thing is the atmosphere in the room: it seems that the artist himself will come in now and continue working on his next 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, the Vasarely Foundation. The exhibition, assembled by Victor Vasarely, included his own works, thanks to which a new architectural and graphic style was developed.
All lovers of contemporary art should visit the cultural center La Cité du livre of Provence - this is a media complex located in an abandoned but reconstructed match factory. Fans of modern cinema and literature from all over France flock here 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 a walk through the sights and interesting places of Aix-en-Provence, because the outskirts 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 Aix-en-Provence (France). Among the main ones, the following should be mentioned:
- Mount Saint-Victoire, which Cézanne called his muse.
- 14th century castle in Vauvenargues, where Pablo Picasso's grave is located.
- The 12th century Torone Monastery is located near the city of Kars.
- Entrecasteaux is a village that seems to have come out of the Middle Ages. The whole of it is a monument to the historical and architectural landscape of the 11th century.
Those wishing to try black truffles should visit the town of Ops, and the Var department welcomes fans of eco-tourism. In a word, Provence has entertainment for every taste, so traveling through its lands is guaranteed to bring a lot of pleasure and unforgettable impressions.
*Prices are current as of October 2018.
Aix-en-Provence is a charming aristocratic town in the south of France, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, located between Marseille and the Luberon mountains, among healing thermal springs. For many centuries, it was and still remains the cultural center of Provence with a huge number of festivals held here. With one of France's oldest universities and the European Academy of Music, the city is bustling with students and has the feel of a vibrant creative laboratory. The special charm of Aix-en-Provence is added by medieval stone-paved streets, luxurious palaces of the Provençal nobility, made in the Italian Baroque style of the 17th-18th centuries, elegant facades of ancient estates with sophisticated openwork wrought-iron balconies and a huge variety of fountains. This southern French town is considered the center of antiques in Provence: at local flea markets and numerous antique shops, collectors and antique lovers from all over the world are constantly “rummaging” in search of relics.
The balneological resorts of Aix-en-Provence, located in the Arc River valley, at an altitude of 175 meters above sea level, are also popular. Warm healing springs were discovered in this region by the Romans, and until today, calcium bicarbonate waters with a temperature of about 36°C are used for both bathing and drinking, as an auxiliary treatment for diseases of the cardiovascular, excretory and musculoskeletal systems. Spa treatments with healing waters are offered not only in country health centers, but also in some hotels in the city itself.
- Area: 186 km²;
- Time zone: UTC+1, summer UTC+2;
- Population: 141,200.
How to get to the city
You can get to Aix-en-Provence from Marseille - this is where the nearest international airport is located, from which express buses regularly run to the city. There is also a train connection with the capital of France - a trip on a high-speed train from Paris to Aix-en-Provence will take about 3 hours.
A selection of profitable air tickets through Aviadiscounter (searches like Aviasales + a selection of airline promotions and sales).
| From where to where | departure date | Find a ticket |
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Nantes → Marseille | ||
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Palermo → Marseille | ||
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London → Marseille | ||
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Lille → Marseille | ||
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Rome → Marseille | ||
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Eindhoven → Marseille | ||
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Catania → Marseille | ||
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Olbia → Marseille | ||
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Strasbourg → Marseille | ||
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Split → Marseille | ||
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Warsaw → Marseille | ||
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Venice → Marseille | ||
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Vienna → Marseille | ||
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Lisbon → Marseille | ||
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Barcelona → Marseille | ||
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Bordeaux → Marseille | ||
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Berlin → Marseille | ||
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Valencia → Marseille | ||
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Malaga → Marseille | ||
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Biarritz → Marseille | ||
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Krakow → Marseille | ||
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Saint Petersburg → Marseille | ||
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Nador → Marseille | ||
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Loix → Marseille | ||
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Tunisia → Marseille | ||
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Naples → Marseille | ||
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Faro → Marseille | ||
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Kutaisi → Marseille | ||
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Cologne → Marseille | ||
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Porto → Marseille | ||
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Prague → Marseille | ||
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Moscow → Marseille | ||
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Seville → Marseille | ||
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Madrid → Marseille | ||
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Lyon → Marseille | ||
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Fes → Marseille | ||
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Alicante → Marseille | ||
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Paris → Marseille | ||
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Dusseldorf → Marseille | ||
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Bologna → Marseille | ||
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Ibiza → Marseille | ||
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Yerevan → Marseille | ||
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Monastir → Marseille | ||
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Puerto Del Rosario → Marseille | ||
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Luxembourg → Marseille | ||
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Turin → Marseille | ||
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Algeria → Marseille | ||
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Toulouse → Marseille | ||
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Bastia → Marseille | ||
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Glasgow → Marseille | ||
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Nice → Marseille | ||
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Budapest → Marseille | ||
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Hamburg → Marseille | ||
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Dublin → Marseille | ||
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Alghero → Marseille | ||
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Geneva → Marseille | ||
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Marrakesh → Marseille | ||
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Djerba → Marseille | ||
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Essaouira → Marseille | ||
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Frankfurt am Main → Marseille | ||
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Agadir → Marseille | ||
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Santander → Marseille | ||
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Mulhouse → Marseille | ||
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Belgrade → Marseille | ||
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Manchester → Marseille | ||
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Ajaccio → Marseille | ||
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Hannover → Marseille |
