Aix-en-Provence

30 km from Marseille
Population : 140 000
Altitude : 175m

Aix-en-Provence is famed for its waters, its art, its university and the historic capital of Provence. The 17th century Cours Mirabeau and its multitude of cafés, its beautiful fountains - the most renowned of which is la Rotonde (1860) - its palatial town houses never fail to captivate visitors who come from the world over to discover its long history. Aix is 15 km from the Sainte-Victoire mountain, a rock climber's dream and ideally suited to hikes and walks, which was depicted lovingly by the impressionist painter Paul Cézanne (born on 19 January 1839 in Aix-en-Provence).

What to see, what to visit: The cathedral Saint-Sauveur; the 12th century Cloître Saint-Sauveur; the church of Notre-Dame de la Seds (1853); the church of Saint-Esprit (1706 to 1728); the church of Saint-Jean-de-Malte, close to the Cours Mirabeau; numerous town houses; the museum Granet (1671); the museum of old Aix, opened in 1933; the tapestry museum; the 'Fondation Vasarely', opened in 1973 and designed by Victor Vasarely himself; the 'Cité du Livre'.

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