Aix-en-Provence, the former capital of Provence, is a medieval town with boulevards, fountains, and mansions, and is the most "metropolitan" region of Provence, as it has been the cultural, economic, and intellectual center of Provence since the 12th century. Aix-en-Provence is the cultural, economic and intellectual center of Provence since the 12th century, and is also the home of the talented painter Cézanne, whose tours can be taken in the city center. Aix is an important international student town in France, and the boulevards are popular for their two-waiter cafes.
Basic introduction Chinese name ：Aix Famous attractions ：Mirabeau Boulevard Affiliated country ： France Affiliated city ：Provence Recommended length ：1~2 days Suitable season ：June-August every year Basic information,Specialties,Architecture,Transportation information,Shopping and leisure,Shopping,Leisure,Recreation,Entertainment,Gourmet,Cuisine,Fast food,Drinks,Accommodation,Camping,Budget hotels,Celebrities,Basic information The original meaning of Aix is derived from the Latin word " water", which was also said to mean "the best place in Provence". In 122 B.C., a Roman general discovered that the springs here could cure the sick, so the city was called the "City of Water" - Aix, and there are now nearly a hundred fountains in the city of Aix, and the tap water here is really good to drink, pure and odorless. The population of Aix is less than 150,000, but the number of tourists every year is much more than that, no matter in winter or summer in the streets and alleys you can always see them, here is a typical Mediterranean climate, warm in winter and cool in summer, moist but not humid. Aix is also known as a university town, the first university was founded in 1409 A.D. There are four or five universities in the small city, and students come from all over the world, so you can see bright and lively young people of all colors on the streets. Specialties Lavender and Wine The locals of Aix say: "Lavender is the beautiful garment of Provence, while wine is the blood of Provence", and I've read a poem by Malraux: "The beautiful lavender fields are the swaddling clothes of grapes. " I also saw Monet's painting "Lavender and Grapes", even Maupassant wrote such lines as "purple grapes are the color of lavender". Perhaps it is true that artists have too many fantasies, or perhaps in their minds Provence, lavender and grapes are indispensable. Provence's most beautiful and famous wine country, fantasy in the swaying of purple lavender, leaving a sweet echo. This free color compels artists to create inspiration, including Cézanne, Van Gogh, Monet, Picasso, Chagall, etc. All of them unfolded a new stage of their artistic life in Provence, and the hedonistic atmosphere of the C?te d'Azur also attracted American writer Fitzgerald, British writer D.H. Lawrence, French writers such as Huxley and Nietzsche to come to make a pilgrimage to the city, and of course, it also included the "Mountain Dwelling" (A Year in Provence) which brought Provence to the forefront of the world's most beautiful and most famous wine country, leaving sweet echoes of fantasy in the swaying of purple lavender. A Year in Provence, and of course, Pietermeier, who put Provence on the map with A Year in Provence. Provence, lavender, and romantic colors are endless attractions for tourists. Specialties Aix is best known for its medieval tradition of Corinthian cookies, of which there are many boutiques along the Mirabeau Boulevard. In addition, there are a number of bazaars throughout the streets of Aix, famous for their olive oil, lavender spices and wine. Among the local wine stores is the Cave du Felibrige, located at 18 rue des Cordeliers, which has a spectacular collection of wines - some of them very expensive. In addition, there are about 20 calisson makers in town, as well as a large number of boutiques specializing in delicious French pastries. Tip: Candy Feast Architecture Tiny Aix has a big library of high rank: the Bibliothèque Méranée. Founded by the bibliophile Méranard, an Aix nobleman who died in 1780, Méranard's collection of 40,000 books dating from the 11th to 13th centuries is a precious cultural asset. The library was built on the site of a match factory and is a very special building with modern services. Aix When one thinks of Aix, one immediately thinks of the Boulevard Mihapo. Mihapo boulevard began construction in 1650, from the east of the King Horne fountain, through the middle of the two exquisite lovely small fountains, west to the large fountain full of sculpture, 500 meters is not long, but according to da Vinci's theory of aesthetics, the width of the street and the height of the two buildings are exactly the same. The avenue bisects Aix, with the streets in the south neatly organized in straight lines and right angles, while the streets in the north are twisted and intricate. The Two Brothers Café on the north side of the avenue was opened in 1792 and has been a meeting place for famous artists and literati for over two hundred years. In the center of Aix, next to the towering church of Saint-Jean-Marlet, there is an unassuming old beige building that houses one of the most important art museums in the south of France, the Musée Gerhanne. Originally built in 1670 as a prayer hall for the Knights of Malta, the museum building was converted into a school of fine arts after 1828, when the painter Girard Girhanet donated all his works and collections to it. Later on, a large collection of works of art from the most powerful families of Aix in the 18th and 19th centuries was concentrated here. Transportation By air It takes only 1 hour and 15 minutes to reach Marseille-Provence International Airport by plane from Paris airport, and there is a direct bus service from Marseille airport to the city of Aix, a 25-kilometer drive of about 30 minutes. Railroad Aix's small downtown train station is located at the southernmost end of Avenue Victor Hugo. There are frequent trains here to Brijanson (€31.2, 3hrs 15mins), Gap (€23v. 8, 2hrs) and Marseille (€6.2, 35mins, at least 18 a day) Aix TVG station-Aix en Provence is 8km from the center of town, which is directly accessible by bus D9. TGV trains give The TGV train gives Aix access to all parts of France and even to Brussels, Geneva, London, Cologne, Milan and other places in Europe. Aix is 30 minutes from Marseille, 45 minutes from Lyon and 3 hours from Paris by TGV train. There are about 20 express trains a day between Aix and Marseille. By road Aix's bus station, La Rotonde, is a 10-minute walk to the southwest. There's a good choice of bus company services here, including those to Marseille (€4.40, 35 minutes, 1 every 10 minutes, every 20 minutes on Mondays), Arles (€10, 1 hour 45 minutes, 5 daily), and Avignon (€10, 1 hour, 6 daily from Monday to Saturday). ⊿ No Transportation from the bus station to the airport and TGV train station Between 5am and 23:30pm, visitors can take the Navette, which is a round-trip bus that arrives at the TGV train station from the bus station in the public **** of Aix for €3.90, and to Marseille Provence Airport for €7.90. Shopping & Leisure Shopping Aix's chic stores line the Marius Reinaud walkway, and even from there it's a short walk to the Palais de Justice on the Place de Le Verdun. The boulevard Mirabeau is also lined with elegant women's clothing stores. Leisure Every morning, shelved tables are set up in the Place de Richelme and a produce market opens with olives, feta cheese, lavender flowers, honey, peach melons and other sun-soaked products. Another food market (place des Precheurs) is open on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings. On Sunday mornings the flower market fills the Place des Precheurs and the Place de la Cité. The flea market in the Place de Verdun is also a great place to find quirky things. The flea market is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Entertainment Visitors can find out what's going on in the area by browsing through the monthly In Aix magazine, which is available free of charge at the visitor center. In addition, the local dance troupe, Le Ballet Preljocaj, performs a number of local favorites when they are not on tour, and is worth seeing. Movies Aix's artistically talented students ensure a supply of good movies, ranging from Oscar contenders to idol dramas, mostly with English dialog. Gastronomy Aix is home to flavors from all over the world, but it is best known for its local cuisine, which is representative of Provencal cuisine and is considered to be the most representative, uniquely sourced and well-structured Mediterranean cuisine. And you can also find a concentration of Vietnamese and Chinese restaurants in the area, both in the neighborhood of Rue de la Verrerie and Felibre Gaut. Cuisine The seasonings used in Aix cooking are unique, with garlic, tomatoes, cheese, olive paste, and most importantly, the local signature herb seasoning, which comes in the rosymary, thyme, and fennel varieties, and is the key seasoning that gives local dishes their distinctive aromatic smell. In addition, Aix dishes are made from a wide range of ingredients, including pig's feet, cow's brains, cow's stomach, cow's tail, all kinds of livers and kidneys, as well as snails, rabbits and birds of prey, etc., which are all combined with unique cooking techniques and seasonings to make them a delight to eat. La Boulangerie du Coin Address: 4 rue Boulegon Description: Open 24 hours a day, Tuesday through Sunday, with freshly baked bread every day, set menus at 7.50 euros each Drinks Roadside eateries offer plenty of choices to satisfy people's needs. The city squares are full of open-air restaurants, especially on Place des Cardeurs, Place Verdun and Place de la Cité. Les Deux Garcons Address: 53 cours Mirabeau Description: Since 1792, this place has been known as the best place to sip a drink, and was once frequented by Cézanne and Zola. In the gilded, olive-colored salon and on the outdoor terrace, you'll be served by waiters in dinner suits and long white aprons, holding their plates high in the air with one hand and clearing the table with the other. On the upper floor of the bistro, there is also a jazz club or piano bar. Accommodation This elegant, casual little town is one of the tourist hotspots in the south of France, and there are plenty of hotels and hostels of all levels. From the train station to the Boulevard Mirabeau, there is a concentration of reasonably priced, hygienic and comfortable hotels. Camping Camping Arc-en-Ciel Address: rte de Nice Price: €17.1 Description: The campsite is located in a secluded mountainous area, but close to the hustle and bustle of the highway, and it's about 5km from the center of town. Just take the bus number 3 **** and get off at Les Trois Sautets stop. Budget hotels Auberge de Jeunesse du Jas de Bouffan Aix Address: 3 av Marcel Pagnol Price: 15.7 euros per night for a bed and breakfast booking: 7am-1pm, 5pm-midnight Booking time. Midnight Description: For motorists and cyclists, with bar and tennis court, far from the city center, take bus 4 from La Rotonde station to Vasarely. Hotel Concorde Address: 68 blvd du Roi Rene Price: 43-69 euros per night for a standard room Description: when booking a room, if possible, choose one of the 50 rooms with a view of the mountains, which have good accessibility, and are located on the south-east side of the center. It is located on the south-eastern edge of the center. Some rooms come with small balconies, the more expensive rooms have air conditioning and a small bar cooler, and try to avoid rooms on the back of the 1st floor which are poorly lit. Convenient on-site parking is only €7.50. Celebrities Born in Aix in 1839, oil painter Cézanne is said to be the "father of modern art" and has no equal in the history of modern art. No. 9 rue Paul Cézanne, Cézanne's former studio, is now open to the public. Out of Aix city along the "Cézanne Road" to the east into the St. Victorian mountains, four kilometers on the hillside of the old quarry there is a yellow ochre-colored old stone house, which is Cézanne once lived in and many times depicted on the canvas of the "Black Castle".