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Aix-en-Provence may not have the benefit of the costal proximity and all the water sports possibilities, but it is still located in the wonderful Mediterranean climate area. Indeed the light and sunny days are unique – as Aix’s many fountains.
In my first visit to Aix it was...
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The bus dropped us off at a parking lot not far from the dam. From here you have several hiking options. You can cross the dam and walk around Lac du Bimont, or you can head in the opposite direction and visit the smaller Lac Zola. We decided to go in the direction of Lac Zola, which is in a...
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The next day, Saturday, was market day in Aix, and almost every square had a market going on, whether it was the book market in the Place de l’Université, or the large food market in the Place de l’Hotel de Ville. We explored for a while, and then bought the makings for a picnic lunch from...
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We stopped for lunch near the Hotel de Ville, did some shopping, and then walked south to the Musée Granet. On the way, we passed the Place des Dauphins, which has a fountain with four dolphins serving as the water spouts. The Musée Granet has a fine collection of paintings, from early...
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After touring the cathedral, we visited the Pavillon de Vendôme. This is a renaissance building surrounded by a park in the formal French style. By now the sun was almost overhead, and we enjoyed...
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The first stop on our walking tour of Aix – and you can easily walk to all of the interesting sites in the city – was the Cathedral Saint-Saveur. The gothic edifice of this church looms up over...
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Refreshed from out journey and well breakfasted, we headed out to explore Aix. The first thing I noticed about the city was the light. During our entire stay, the sky was azure blue and cloudless,...
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We checked into our bed and breakfast, La Petite Maison de Carla, located at 7, rue du Puits Neuf, in a quite neighbourhood not far from the Cathedral Saint-Saveur. Our room had a double bed,...
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Aix-en-Provence is an excellent place to spend a weekend. My wife and I did just that not too long ago. It was the beginning of November. The weather in Paris was starting to turn grey and rainy. We had never been to Aix, and the thought of spending a weekend in the South with sun and perhaps...
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This establishment is designed to look like a theater set, complete with laundry in the windows, old yoys and recycled workbenches. It opened three years ago and is home to Martine Barbefier and...
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The arrival of the great chef Rene Berges of the Relais Saint Victoire brought about a shift at this restaurant, which was opened in September 2000 by Madame Comte-Bellot. Berges brought in his own...
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The former Cafe du Cours, opened in 1804, has been transformed into the Bastide du Cours, which now has four charming rooms upstairs, in addition to the lovely old terrace, cafe, restaurant and...
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This historic four-star establishment located on the edge of the Mazarin district and now owned by Accor was for many years the only major hotel in the city. Renovated and modernized, it is a...
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While visiting Aix en Provence in France, we went around the city like a lost team of kiddies especially when we were at this particular square which I am sorry for not remembering the name; there were plenty tourists (just like we were) taking pictures here and there; we kind of knew what we...
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