Aix en Provence FRANCE

Founded by the Romans in 122 B.C. Aix-en-Provence was originally named Aquae Sextiae because of its numerous springs. Architecturally, the patrimony of Aix is fascinating with numerous private mansions built between the 16th and the 18th century.

Aix is famous for its "grand boulevard" - the Cours Mirabeau - with its plane trees and cafe's terraces crowded all year round. You can also discover Provencal gentle way of life by vivid markets which animate the town every day: flowers market in the town hall's square, vegetables market on the Place Richelme and the large market three times a week where you can find everything for authentic fresh, varied and perfumed Provencal cuisine but also second-hand books, antiques, flowers.

These daily events, where Aix's inhabitants gather, meet and talk, animate the city and offers a shimmering range of colors, tastes and fragrances. One of the great characteristic of this town is its beauty made by the charms of facades, the narrowness of the streets sublimated by the brightness of the sun. Culturally, Aix-en-Provence is bustling with activities: world-famous international lyric art festival, dance in Aix.

There are also many museums where you can discover Provence and its artists such as the Vasarely foundation or Granet museum where Cezanne's masterpieces can be seen. Moreover, the 40000 students give the town youth and dynamism: Aix seems to be a town that never sleeps. There are many bars, restaurants open late at night on the Place Richelme or in the Verrerie street where you can meet foreign and French students, tourists, old typical Provencal people; in fact all the diversity of Aix people.

On the Cour Mirabeau, the café "Les Deux Garçons" has been an institution for more than two centuries with famous consumers such as Zola or Churchill. The majesty of the Sainte Victoire mountain, which was one of the favorite subjects of Cezanne, dominates the town.

The Luberon mountains, lovingly featured in Peter Mayle's novels A Year in Provence and Toujours Provence, are 30 minutes away. There are plenty of picturesque villages all around the city such as Les Baux de Provence and le Luberon with the Most Beautiful Villages of France such as Gordes, Menerbes, Roussillon, Lourmarin, Venasque and Ansouis, are only 20 minutes driving away from Aix en Provence. North, Seguret is also one of the Most Beautiful Villages of France, which will introduce you to Cote du Rhone wines and a beautiful patrimony also, as always in the Most Beautiful Villages of France.