Aix-en-provence Key Attractions

Aix-en-Provence provides many cultural and fascinating attractions for visitors of all ages and covers all interests. Many of the attractions relate to the town’s history, such as churches and museums, but there are also art galleries, Roman baths and many markets. Visitors will need at least a couple of days to fully appreciate all of the wonderful sights on offer here.

Atelier Czanne

This is the house of impressionist painter Paul Cézanne. The house includes his studio, which has been restored to exactly as it was at the time of his death in 1906. None of his paintings can be found in the house, but you can see many objects that became the subjects of his still life paintings.

Cours Mirabeau

This is the street that runs from the Old Town to the Mazarin Quarter. It is one of the oldest streets in the town and has been a major thoroughfare since the 12th century. Beautiful trees line the pavements providing shelter for the numerous cafés that sit on one side of the street, while stunning mansions line the other side. It was once a street for horse-drawn carriages, but today it is a busy hub of activity. It is the perfect place to sit, have a cup of coffee and watch the world go by.

Fountains and markets

Aix is famous for its markets and fountains. Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday visitors can find a host of markets open throughout the city. Stalls sell local cuisine, clothes, flowers, books and antiques. If you are after fruit and vegetables, the most popular market can be found in the Old Town, on Place de la Madeleine.

Over 40 fountains can be found located throughout the city, with the oldest dating back to the 16th century. The most impressive fountain can be found at the end of Cours Mirabeau.

Les Milles

This town is located just south of Aix-en-Provence and is home to the Les Milles Memorial (Mémorial des Milles). The Memorial sits on the site of a WWII concentration camp.

Mazarin Quarter

The Mazarin Quarter dates back to the 17th century and was built as a luxury housing estate for members of parliament and nobility. It is a fascinating place to walk around and is easy to navigate as it is laid out in a grid pattern around the two main streets, rue Cardinale and rue du 4 Septembre. The Quarter is home to the Arbaud Museum, which houses a fine collection of locally produced paintings and pottery.

Old Town

Situated at the north end of Cours Mirabeau, this area is a maze of old medieval streets and fountains. St Sauveur Cathedral can be found here, which was built between the 5th and 18th centuries. The Archbishop’s Palace can be found next door to the cathedral and is home to the Tapestry Museum

St Sauveur Cathedral

This cathedral took over 12 centuries to complete and is therefore rich in different architectural style, embracing all of the architectural fashions from the 5th to the 17th century. The cathedral has three naves, built in three different periods throughout history.

The Roman nave is typically Provencal in style and dates back to the 12th century. The Gothic nave was built between 1285 and 1290, and is home to artwork by Froment. The Baroque-style nave was built in the 15th century and is a highly impressive piece of architecture.

Thermal Baths

These baths date back to Roman times and the thermal water is said to help the body’s circulation. They are as popular today as they were then and a modern spa has been built on the site.

Museums

Aix-en-Provence is home to many fascinating museums covering all interests. The Granet Museum exhibits art and archaeology displays. Several paintings by the local artist Paul Cézanne can be found here as well as many more dating back to the 17th century. The museum also displays a collection of remains from Roman times. The Tapestry Museum is located on the Place des Martyrs de la Résistance and displays a permanent collection of 17th and 18th century works.

The Museum of Old Aix-en-Provence exhibits information and objects related to local history and displays include furniture, clothing and china. The Regional Councils art gallery promotes the work of past and present local artists and the Natural History Museum includes displays of dinosaur fossils as well as fossils of many fish and insects.