This visit would mark my first discovery of the small french city of Aix – En – Provence, France. Despite many travels through the region, I had always bypassed the city on a visits to and from the Rhones Alpes Region and the Cote d’Azur region. Our visit to Aix – En – Provence allowed for a more in depth look at the city. It was time well invested and we got the opportunity to explore the city.

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This post is one chapter on a trip to the South of France and Cinque Terre, Italy. This trip was enhanced through Marriott Bonvoy Elite Status and Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan. For information on how this trip was booked, please see our introduction. For parts of the trip, please see this index.

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Touring the Streets of Aix – En – Provence, France

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Despite visiting the Cotes de Provence region several times, an in depth look at Aix – En – Provence had alluded me over the years. After a multi week journey through the Côte d’Azur, I was finally able to give the city a little bit of a look.

During our city visit, we also had the opportunity to enjoy a meal a La Petite Ferme Restaurant. If you are interested in great traditional french cuisine, it’s well worth a visit.

About Aix – En Provence, France:

Aix En Provence has a tremendous roman and french history after being founded in 123 BC by the Roman consul Sextius Calvinus, who gave his name to its springs. 

After passing through several battles, Aix passed to the crown of France with the rest of Provence in 1487, and in 1501 Louis XII established there the parliament of Provence, which existed until 1789.

In modern days, a visit to Aix – En – Provence marks a visit to a terrific university town that is steeped in history.

Visiting Aix – En – Provence, France:

We had based ourselves at the Renaissance Aix – En – Provence Hotel. The Renaissance Aix – En – Provence Hotel was a terrific place to base ourselves for our two day visit to the region. The hotel was centrally located and within a ten minute walking distance from the Aix – En – Provence old town.

We started off with the Fontaine de la Rotonde. It’s an absolutely gorgeous old world european fountain marking the centre of town.

We wandered up Cir Mirabeau, which was a double wide city boulevard marked with cafés. It had a pedestrian only orientation with occasional art features.

We eventually led up towards the top end of the street at the Fontaine du Roi de René.

Aix – En – Provence had many intricate and unique corners to the inner city. There was something around every corner to explore. These included small squares, quaint cafés and intricate churches held over from a different era.

Each corner and set offered a new square and space to explore. The city offered dozens of cafés and dining establishments overseen by ancient European squares.

There were also a few hidden discoveries. Under an arch, I located a plaque commemorating the liberation of Aix – En – Provence from the Axis forces on August 21, 1944 by the United States of America 3rd infantry division with participation of the French Interior forces. It was a poigant reminder of the history that cities in Europe have to offer.

Along our travels, we came across the Christophe de Madeleines shop. The Christophe de Madeleines shop offered freshly baked madeleines every day until sold out. On our visit, there were stacks of lines queuing for these baked pieces of goodness. I ended up queuing up to taste a little bit of the sweet goodness.

After a day of sightseeing, it was time for a snack. We pulled into Café Grillon for an enjoyable wine snack and a croque madame. Filled with savoury cheese and a fried egg, there aren’t snacks like this back home in North America.

Aix – En – Provence was a terrific discovery of a french city in Cotes de Provence. With wonderful streets like this, it’s easy to see why it is such a favorite amongst visitors to France.

My Thoughts on Visiting Aix – En – Provence:

Le Ville de Aix – En – Provence was a terrific discovery for our visit to the South of France. The number of cafés and spaces surrounding the old city made it well worth our time and efforts.

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If you’ve visited Aix – En – Provence what is your favorite feature of the city ?

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