Provence

Aix

Aix en Provence has the sophistication of Paris and the youth of a university town, meshed with lots of sun and a laid back atmosphere! But, make no mistake; this is a vibrant city and not the hillside towns overlooking fields of lavender of traditional Provence. For those looking for an urban experience (150,000 people) with museums, restaurants in charming streets, Aix is the place to be, the so-called Paris of the south.

Additional good news is that Aix is close to Marseille, not far from the hill towns of Les Alpilles and the Luberon in traditional Provence and it is a little further afield to the wild Camargue region.

Aix has the wide boulevard Cours Mirabeau with its shops and restaurants, will forever be tied to the great painter Cezanne, who did much of his best work here, and is known as the city of a thousand fountains.

“In Aix, a blind man could believe that it was raining, but if he could see without his stick, he would marvel at a hundred blue fountains singing a song of praise to Cezanne.” - French poet Jean Cocteau

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