Aix en Provence Tourist Attractions

Sightseeing Overview

Aix-en-Provence is a pleasant city to discover on foot, and visitors should take the time to explore its many squares, admire its well preserved architecture and discover its many fountains (over 20 of them). A good starting point is the cours Mirabeau, which divides the city in two, with the Old Town to the north and the Quartier Mazarin to the south. Most of Aix’s attractions lie within these boundaries, although a few, such as the Atelier Cezanne and the Fondation Vasarely, are further afield (but still within easy reach).

Passes
Visa pour Aix et Pays d’Aix is a card that is available from the tourist office and participating venues and gives discounted access to museums and public transport in Aix and the local area.

Key Attractions:

Le Cours Mirabeau

The city’s main thoroughfare (and the most famous one) is the Cours Mirabeau, a street lined with cafes, restaurants and elegant mansions, and shaded by several rows of century-old plane trees. Once a street for horse-drawn coaches, today the cours Mirabeau links the Mazarin district to the south with the old commercial town to the north. Sit down at one of the terraces and watch life go by while sipping a cappucino or a latte and listening to the sounds of water playing in the fountains nearby.

Le Musee Granet (Granet Museum)

François Marius Granet was a famous aixois painter (1775-1849) who bequeathed his personal collection to the city upon his death. Housed in a historic building, the museum, one of the best in the region, features major works by French painters from the 16th and 17th centuries, as well as paintings from Dutch, Flemish and Italian schools. Please note: the museum is currently closed for renovation and will reopen its doors in June 2006.

Atelier Cezanne (Cezanne Studio)

Many of the visitors to Aix-en-Provence will have an interest in the work of Cezanne, and here they will have an opportunity to discover several of the artist’s familiar objects (many featured in some of his paintings). The studio is equipped with an audio/video room where visitors can watch relevant films and CD-roms.

Musee du Viel Aix (Museum of Old Aix)

Hotel Estienne de Saint Jean is one of the finest hotels particuliers from the end of the 17th century. The finely carved door opens into a hall with a magnificent balustrade in wrought iron. The main living areas, which have preserved part of the original decor, house the Musee du Viel Aix. The museum contains memorials to Aix’s past, including furniture, costumes, paintings, china and local figurines.

Pavillon de Vendome (Vendome Pavilion)

Surrounded by an elaborate French garden, the Pavillon de Vendome gives visitors the opportunity to see a typical Aix mansion as it would have looked in the 18th century. Well preserved furniture, paintings and artifacts from the 17th and 18th centuries give a glimpse into the lives of the local aristocracy of the time.

Further Distractions:

Musee d’Histoire Naturelle (National History Museum)

Founded in 1838, this museum, housed in another beautiful historic building, boasts a unique collection of dinosaur fossils found on nearby Ste Victoire mountain. Additional fossils include fish, insects and plants.

Fondation Vasarely (Vasarely Foundation)

A striking structure located just outside Aix in the Jas de Bouffan, the Fondation Vasarely was founded by Victor Vasarely in 1976 to promote the integration of art in architecture.