Aix-en-Provence
Slim Aarons | Holiday In Provence (1989)
Aix-en-Provence is a university city in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of southern France. It was the birthplace of Post-Impressionist painter Paul Cézanne. A walking trail links sites including his childhood home, Jas de Bouffan, and his former studio, Atelier Cézanne. The white limestone mountain Sainte-Victoire overlooking the city as well as the surrounding countryside, were frequent subjects of his works. Here is our guide to Aix-en-Provence.
STAY
VILLA GALLICI A Relais & Châteaux property set on a secluded lane in a residential area, this opulent hotel has plush, antique-filled rooms. There's an elegant fine-dining restaurant with patio seating, as well as a wine cellar, an outdoor pool, a lounge, and a luxe spa. 18 Av. de la Violette; villagallici.com
VILLA SAINT ANGE This stately luxury hotel is a restored grand 18th-century mansion-turned-art center. Opulent rooms offer distinct touches such as Oriental carpets, chaise lounges and silk curtains. There's an elegant lounge, a high-end restaurant and a heated outdoor pool, as well as a hot tub, a terrace and landscaped gardens. 7 Traverse St Pierre; villasaintange.com
CHÂTEAU DE LA GAUDE Offering views of Sainte-Victoire mountain, this upscale hotel in a country manor with annexes and a winery. Amenities include a sleek eatery/bar and an acclaimed Michelin-starred restaurant, plus a terrace, and formal gardens with sculptures. 3959 Rte des Pinchinats; chateaudelagaude.com
HOTEL AQUABELLA & SPA Set on lush gardens in the center of Aix-en-Provence, this relaxed hotel next to Thermes Sextius spa includes direct access to the spa with a seasonal outdoor pool and a fitness center. There's an upscale restaurant serving Mediterranean cuisine, and a grill-style restaurant with a terrace. There’s also a lounge bar offering cocktails and weekly live jazz. 2 Rue des Étuves; aquabella.fr
DINE | DRINK
PÂTISSERIE BÉCHARD An elegant locale selling a wide range of pastries & cookies, plus housemade chocolates & edible gifts. Famous for the calissons! 12 Cr Mirabeau; maisonbechard.fr
MADELEINES DE CHRISTOPHE This popular bakery sells madeleines out of the window. 4 Rue Gaston de Saporta
LE ART In the kitchen of this magnificent 18C bastide, chef Matthieu Dupuis-Baumal serves boldly inventive dishes. 3959 Rte des Pinchinats; chateaudelagaude.com
ÂMA TERRA The Âma Terra restaurant at the Villa Saint Ange gourmet hotel and restaurant in Provence offers Mediterranean-inspired cuisine using fresh, seasonal produce.Villa Saint-Ange, Hotel Luxury À Aix-En-Provence; 7 Traverse St Pierre; amaterra-restaurant.com
LES GALINAS Three young partners, les galinas (or "big boys" in Provençal), opened this bistro with a view to bringing back Provençal cuisine in the vein of grandma's home cooking. This Provençal bistro serves family-style cuisine made with seasonal and local produce. 10 Rue Constantin; lesgalinas.eatbu.com
ÉTUDE Non-conformist chef Loïc Pétri cut his teeth in leading Parisian establishments (Jean-François Piège, Joël Robuchon) before going back to his roots in the south of France. In the heart of the historical part of Aix, in his intimate, contemporary-style restaurant with just 12 covers, he lets his inspiration run riot with a single set menu guided by the seasons. 24 rue de l Rue Aumône Vieille; lesgalinas.eatbu.com
ART | CULTURE | ACTIVITIES
CEZANNE’S STUDIO Cézanne's studio is a biographical museum about the painter Paul Cézanne, in Aix-en-Provence in Southern France. It was his studio from 1902 until his death in 1906. 13 Av. Paul Cézanne; cezanne2025.com
MUSEE GRANET The Musée Granet is a museum in the quartier Mazarin, Aix-en-Provence, France devoted to painting, sculpture and archeology. Pl. Saint-Jean de Malte; museegranet-aixenprovence.fr
LE CENTRE D’ART DE L’HOTEL DU CAUMONT The Hôtel de Caumont is a hôtel particulier with rotating art exhibitions. 3 Rue Joseph Cabassol; caumont-centredart.com/fr
COURS MIRABEAU This iconic boulevard is a must-see, lined with fountains, shops, and cafes.
CATHEDRALE SAINT-SAUVEUR The Aix cathedral was built on the site of a temple to Apollo, so the legend goes, between the 5th to the 18th century. 34 Pl. des Martyrs de la Resistance; paroisses-aixarles.fr/aix-saintsauveur
SPA | WELLNESS
THERMES SEXTIUS This luxurious spa is built on top of the thermal baths of Aquae Sextiae, which were discovered by the Romans in the 18th century. 55 Av. des Thermes; thermes-sextius.com