Places to stay in Aix-en-Provence and the Pays d’Aix

Aix-en-Provence, a city of art and a gateway to Provence

Staying around Aix-en-Provence lets you enjoy the historic centre, the museums and the market on Place Richelme, while returning to the calmer atmosphere of bastides, mas and guest houses in the Pays d’Aix.

A Roman city and a city of art

Aix-en-Provence still carries the traces of a long history, from the Roman foundation of Aquae Sextiae to its role as capital of the County of Provence. This historical depth is clearly visible in the old centre, its squares, its facades and the private mansions that give the city its aristocratic character.

For its elegance and Provençal art of living

Around the Cours Mirabeau, Aix retains the imprint of a parliamentary and aristocratic city. Private mansions, fountains, shaded squares and pale facades form a very coherent historic centre, pleasant to explore on foot. The Four Dolphins Fountain, in the Mazarin district, gives a particularly elegant image of it.

A city of culture and the birthplace of great artists

Aix-en-Provence is closely associated with Paul Cézanne, who was born in the city, and Émile Zola, who spent part of his youth here. The Musée Granet, Cézanne’s Studio, the Musée du Vieil Aix and the Vasarely Foundation give a stay of a few days a real cultural dimension.

Every summer, the International Festival of Lyric Art also gives the city an important place in the European cultural season.

A starting point for exploring Provence

From Aix-en-Provence, several major Provençal landscapes are within easy reach: the Sainte-Victoire mountain to the east, with Vauvenargues at the foot of the massif, the villages of the Luberon to the north, including Lourmarin and the southern Luberon, the Roquefavour Aqueduct to the west, then Marseille, Cassis and the calanques to the south. This location makes it easy to vary the days between heritage, markets, walks, villages and the coast.

Aix-en-Provence also makes it easy to plan excursions towards Avignon, Arles, the Camargue or the French Riviera.

A lively city all year round

Aix-en-Provence is not just a seasonal destination. Thanks to its universities, museums, markets, terraces and cultural events, the city remains lively throughout the year.

This vitality gives each stay a different atmosphere depending on the season: brighter and more animated in spring, more cultural in summer, softer and more local in autumn and winter.

It is also what makes Aix enjoyable for a weekend as well as for a longer stay: the charm of a historic city, the comfort of an active town and the immediate proximity of the landscapes of the Pays d’Aix.