A weekend in Aix, Provence as we like it

Strolling through the city centre

Now that we've arrived and settled into our hotel, it's time to take a stroll through the typically Provençal streets of Aix-en-Provence to get a feel for the city. After a hearty breakfast, we took a little digestive stroll around the Grand Marché on Cours Mirabeau. A veritable Aix-en-Provence institution, it is renowned for its textiles and traditional crafts. Local produce is available for lunch, including goat's cheese, lavender, olive oils and excellent wines from the vineyards of Provence.

After a visit to the Rotonde, the city's central square, the morning can be rounded off with a spot of shopping in the Allées Provençales, Aix-en-Provence's shopping district. You're sure to find what you're looking for here, from pastry shops to designer boutiques, bookshops and the famous calissonniers.

Aix, a city of art and history

Aix-en-Provence is above all a city of culture, where the painter Paul Cézanne lived. You can visit theAtelier Paul Cézanne to admire its many representations of Provence and its still lifes. It was in this calm, luminous setting that the artist painted some of his greatest works between 1902 and 1906, the year of his death. Visitors can wander through his furniture, work equipment and many other objects that were dear to him.

Nearby, the Painter's Terrace displays nine reproductions of Cézanne's most beautiful "Sainte-Victoire", facing the mountain.

Let's continue our discovery of local artists with a visit to the Musée Granet: it's unthinkable to spend a holiday in Aix-en-Provence without visiting it! Located on Place Saint-Jean de Malte, its collections include works by Paul Cézanne, of course, but also by Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet and Jean Dubuffet, all of whom loved Provence.

In the evening, when it's time for an aperitif, head to the terrace of Petit Bistrot Mirabeau, a wine and tapas bar ideally located on the Cours Mirabeau.

Our hotel in Aix-en-Provence :

Sporty morning

Before it gets too hot, we set off for a short hike to the summit of Mont Sainte-Victoire, so dear to the hearts of the people of Aix. In the midst of magnificent landscapes with typically Mediterranean vegetation, you can explore the Sainte-Victoire priory or the Hermitage of Saint-Ser, two of the region's must-see sites.

The stone path that climbs to the summit passes the Cézanne refuge and then climbs to the Croix de Provence and the Brèche des Moines... Picnicking in front of these incredible panoramas, it's easy to understand why the mountain was Paul Cézanne's muse and how it inspired so many artists.

The hike to the summit of Sainte-Victoire is not particularly difficult, but it can be quite strenuous. It takes around four hours to walk there and back, and involves a climb of almost 600 metres. Wear good shoes and don't forget to bring a hat, sun cream and, above all, plenty of water!

If you're not feeling like a trekker, you can hire a bike for a leisurely morning ride around the town. Take the opportunity to visit Ventabren, a charming Provençal village where you'll have no trouble finding a restaurant for lunch.

Let's go to the beach!

After this exhausting morning, all we want to do is cool off! And just as well, the sea isn't far away. Aix-en-Provence is just a 45-minute drive from the Côte Bleue and the Côtes Provençales.

We recommend the Sainte-Croix beach in Martigues: surrounded by pine trees and cicadas, its crystal-clear water and white sand make it an ideal spot for swimming and sunbathing. Other beaches in the area include the very large Plage du Verdon, Plage de Carro and Plage de la Couronne Vieille.

Closer to Aix-en-Provence than the coastline, Lac de Peyrolles is often the first choice of Aix residents when the urge to take a dip becomes pressing. Less than 30 minutes away by car, its turquoise waters are hard to resist when the summer sun raises the temperature. Well-equipped, it's very popular with families.

Back in Aix, the day ends with a Mediterranean meal at L'incontournable, a renowned restaurant that deserves its name!

South of Aix

What better way to wake up than with a walk in the woods? Put on your walking shoes and head off for a relaxing stroll at the Mediterranean Forest Ecomuseum, around ten kilometres south of Aix-en-Provence. Along a one-and-a-half kilometre trail through pine and oak forests, you can solve riddles and answer questions to discover the secrets of the forest.

The centre also has a 1,000-square-metre museum area showcasing the riches of the Mediterranean forest through films, interactive tables, games and even a sensory cave.

While we're in the area, we'll take a look at the Vasarely Foundation. This "architectonic" centre is an art museum dedicated to the astonishing works of visual artist Victor Vasarely. Listed as a Historic Monument, it is located in the Jas-de-Bouffan district, in the south-west of the city.

On the way back up to the historic centre, we take a short stroll through the Mazarin district, a very charming and typical Provencal spot, where we stop for lunch.

Afternoon in the vineyards

For our last afternoon in Aix-en-Provence, we decided to book an unusual activity: a side-car excursion along the wine route of the Pays d'Aix. Don't worry, you don't need a motorbike licence, the guide will drive. Along the way, you'll discover the purple expanses of lavender fields, where photo stops are scheduled. We then ride through the vineyards before enjoying a well-deserved wine tasting.

Finally, we reach the Roy René factory and museum, which produces the famous calissons that you can't help but bite into.

To round off our stay in style, we're off to Château La Coste, a real must-see in the region. Here you can visit the magnificent estate, home to pine trees and vines. The château is also an exhibition venue, and visitors flock there to admire the contemporary works in its art centre. But Château La Coste is best known for its delicious restaurants, where you can sample the estate's finest red, rosé and white wines.