TOURIST FAVOURITES AIX-EN-PROVENCE
Visit the city of Aix-en-Provence, renowned for its distinguished and aristocratic charm. Its inhabitants praise its gentle way of life. The architecture is reminiscent of a theatrical set, and you can stroll through the town in a nonchalant manner. A city of festivals, a city of water, a chic city, Aix-en-Provence is sought after by foreigners and students alike. In the city, wander through the historic Mazarin district, the Cours Mirabeau, or discover its many fountains and squares in the pedestrianised city centre.
MUCHA MASTER OF ART NOUVEAU
Hôtel de Caumont - Art Centre
From 17 November 2023 to 24 March 2024
Organised in collaboration with the Mucha Foundation, the winter exhibition at the Hôtel de Caumont is devoted to the great master of Art Nouveau, Alphonse Mucha (1880-1939). A prolific and visionary artist, he revolutionised his contemporaries' perception of art by applying his characteristic aesthetic to a wide range of fields, including posters, advertising, interior decoration and Belle Époque theatre.
FROM PAUL CÉZANNE TO EMILE ZOLA
A city is as much about its people as its buildings. Mirabeau was one of the key players in the French Revolution. Paul Cézanne founded modern art here by analysing the light of Sainte-Victoire. Emile Zola, a friend of Mirabeau, lived here before becoming involved in the novel and the battle over the Dreyfus affair. In the 20th century, Darius Milhaud followed in the footsteps of the composer André Campra.
CALISSONS D'AIX AND OTHER PROVENÇAL CULINARY SPECIALITIES...
Calissons d'Aix, made from marzipan and candied fruit, have been a speciality of the town since the 17th century.They are well worth a diversion and a tasting break.
Other delights include olive oil, Puyricard chocolates (shop), which have created the "clou de Cézanne" with figs and old Provencal marc, and oil pumps (brioches).
You'll also find colourful markets bursting with all the bountiful aromas of Provence every week.
VISIT THE HISTORIC CITY CENTRE AND THE COURS MIRABEAU
The Cours Mirabeau is the town's main avenue. Now reserved exclusively for pedestrians, it's a pleasant place to sip a drink on a terrace in the shade of the plane trees. If you go there in the morning, you may be lucky enough to stroll through the heart of the Provencal market. A city of water, three fountains grace the centre of the Cours: the Fontaine des Neuf-Canons, the Fontaine d'Eau Thermale, also known as the Fontaine Moussue, and the Fontaine du Roi-René. All along the Cours Mirabeau, you can admire the hotels with their aristocratic facades, as well as the terraces and shops that contribute to the lively town centre.
THE CALISSON MUSEUM
Discover the history of the Calisson and the Provence almond through a contemporary museum space, combining period tools and new technologies. Take a unique sensory tour and see the almond trees in bloom and how they are harvested. Discover the raw materials, the stages of production and even the virtual production of a calisson.
LES JARDINS DU ROY RENÉ
Free access outside the factory to the Jardins du Roy, where you can discover the history of the almond tree in Provence through our different areas...