Shopping in Aix en Provence

You will find all the usual Provençal fabric and earthenware in Aix, and a wide range of olive-based products and local wines, but what the city is really famous for is its calissons, a marzipan-like confectionery made from sweet almonds and preserved fruits. They are available in most confiseries (sweet shops) in the city, but for a better selection head for Calissons du Roy Rene, 10 rue Clemenceau, or Leonard Parli, 35 avenue Victor Hugo.

Antiques too are big in Aix, and the best places to go hunting for them are in the Mazarin district, around the cours Mirabeau, in the area around the Hotel de Ville (Town Hall) and
the Palais de Justice (Law Courts) and also Sextius-Republique. A good bric-a-brac market takes place every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday morning on the place Verdun, in front of the Palais de Justice: turn up early to catch the best bargains.

The marche aux fleurs (flower market) takes place on the same mornings on the place de l’Hotel de Ville. Monoprix on the cours Mirabeau is a handy superstore located right in the city center, and sells a bit of everything, from groceries to clothes.

Shops are open 0800-1200 and 1400-1900, although some remain open at lunchtime. Most shops are closed on Sunday. Sales tax varies between 5.5% (food) to 19.6% (luxury goods).