Aix en Provence, France — Where to Go
Aix en Provence Sightseeing Overview
Aix-en-Provence is a pleasant city to discover on foot, and visitors should take the time to explore its many squares, admire its well preserved architecture and discover its many fountains (over 20 of them).
A good starting point is the Cours Mirabeau, which divides the city in two, with the Old Town to the north and the Quartier Mazarin to the south. Most of Aix's attractions lie within these boundaries, although a few, such as the Atelier Cézanne and the Fondation Vasarely, are further afield (but still within easy reach).
Aix en Provence Tourist Information
Office de Tourisme
2 place du Général de Gaulle
Tel: (04) 4216 1161.
Website: www.aixenprovencetourism.com
Aix en Provence Sightseeing
The Pass pour Aix et Pays d'Aix is available from the tourist office and participating venues and gives discounted access to museums and public transport in Aix and the local area. Two other passes, the Aix City Pass and the Pass Cézanne, give free admission to a limited number of top attractions in Aix and are also available from the tourist office.
Aix en Provence Sightseeing
The Pass pour Aix et Pays d'Aix is available from the tourist office and participating venues and gives discounted access to museums and public transport in Aix and the local area. Two other passes, the Aix City Pass and the Pass Cézanne, give free admission to a limited number of top attractions in Aix and are also available from the tourist office.
Key Attractions in Aix en Provence, France
Le Cours Mirabeau
The city's main thoroughfare (and the most famous one) is the Cours Mirabeau, a street lined with cafes, restaurants and elegant mansions, and shaded by several rows of centuries-old plane trees. Once a street for horse-drawn coaches, the Cours Mirabeau today links the Mazarin district to the south with the old commercial town to the north. Sit down at one of the terraces and watch life go by while sipping a cappuccino or a latte and listening to the sounds of water playing in the fountains nearby.
Le MuséeGranet (Granet Museum)
François Marius Granet was a famous local painter (1775-1849) who bequeathed his personal collection to the city upon his death. Housed in a historic building, the museum, one of the best in the region, features major works by French painters from the 16th and 17th centuries, as well as paintings from Dutch, Flemish and Italian schools. Closed Mondays.
Place Saint Jean de Malte
Tel: (04) 4252 8832.
Website: www.museegranet-aixenprovence.fr
Atelier Cézanne(Cezanne Studio)
Many of the visitors to Aix-en-Provence will have an interest in the work of Cézanne, and here they will have an opportunity to discover several of the artist's familiar objects (many featured in some of his paintings). The studio is equipped with an audio/video room where visitors can watch relevant films and CD-roms. Tours in English daily.
9 avenue Paul Cézanne
Tel: (04) 4221 0653.
Website: www.atelier-cezanne.com
Musée du Vieil Aix (Museum of Old Aix)
Hôtel Estienne de Saint Jean is one of the finest hôtels particuliers (private hotels) from the end of the 17th century. The finely carved door opens into a hall with a magnificent wrought iron balustrade. The main living areas, which have preserved part of the original décor, house the Museum of Old Aix. The museum contains memorials to Aix's past, including furniture, costumes, paintings, china and local figurines.
17 rue Gaston de Saporta
Tel: (04) 4221 4355.
Pavillon de Vendôme (Vendome Pavilion)
Surrounded by an elaborate French garden, the Vendome Pavilion gives visitors the opportunity to see a typical Aix mansion as it would have looked in the 18th century. Well preserved furniture, paintings and artifacts from the 17th and 18th centuries give a glimpse into the lives of the local aristocracy of the time.
32 rue Célony
Tel: (04) 4291 8875.
Further Distractions
Musée d'HistoireNaturelle (Natural History Museum)
Founded in 1838, this museum, housed in another beautiful historic building, boasts a unique collection of dinosaur fossils found on nearby Sainte Victoire mountain. Additional fossils include fish, insects and plants.
Hôtel Boyer d'Eguilles, 6 rue Espariat
Tel: (04) 4227 9127.
Website: www.museum-aix-en-provence.org
Fondation Vasarely(Vasarely Foundation)
A striking structure located just outside Aix in the Jas de Bouffan, the Vasarely Foundation was founded by Victor Vasarely in 1976 to promote the integration of art in architecture. Closed Sundays, Mondays and bank holidays.
1 avenue Marcel Pagnol, Jas de Bouffan
Tel: (04) 4220 0109.
Website: www.fondationvasarely.fr
