Gabriella Maria's Charming Provencal Culinary and Culture Retreat

Some gardens, some art, a petite chateau, what else do you need?

The Pavillon Vendôme, a 17th-century architectural gem is fit for a Duke... and was! Originally built for Louis de Mercoeur, Duke of Vendôme, this baroque pavilion, surrounded by exquisite gardens, now serves as a museum illustrating Aix's long history of luxurious  art and furnishings. Ogle French opulence when that overwhelms you, catch your breath in its tranquil garden retreat.

The Old Albertas Family Didn't Know It, but They Built This for You to See

The 18th century architecture of the Place d'Albertas evokes the languid, luxurious days of 18th-century, pre-Revolutionary Provence. Nestled in the heart of Aix-en-Provence and created in 1745 by the Albertas family to enhance the view from their mansion, this elegant square is surrounded by ornate Rococo buildings, featuring a charming central fountain added in 1912.  Visit it to breathe, rest, and watch the world go by.

Self Guided, Old Town

The Old Town of Aix-en-Provence, or Vieil Aix, is a charming historical center famous for its narrow lanes, elegant buildings, and the bustling Cours Mirabeau, lined with cafes and fountains like the Fontaine de la Rotonde. It's a hub of Provençal culture, hosting lively markets and architecturally diverse quarters including buildings like Saint-Sauveur Cathedral, and Albertas Square. This area embodies the spirit of Provence, offering visitors a rich blend of history, art, and the vibrant daily life of its cafes and markets.

THe Fountains Sprays the Answer to the Question: "Why Did People Settle Here, Anyway?

A fountain as an important monument?  When your city's name has an ancient word for water in it; darn right it's important.  Fontaine de la Rotonde is a magnificent example located at the heart of Aix-en-Provence, marking the transition between the old town and the modern city. Erected in 1860, this grandiose piece stands as a testament to Aix's rich architectural heritage and features an impressive display of sculptures, including three statues representing justice, agriculture, and fine arts.

Pass This Last Home that Cezzane Lived in as a Celebrated and Reviled Member of the Community.

Look up to see the large windows that Cezanne had installed on the north side of the apartment so that he would have the correct lighting to paint in his home. One 23 October 1906, Cezanne died here of pleurisy.

Discover Cézzane's atelier just north of the old city that let him paint in solitude.

The studio, known as the "Atelier de Cézanne," allows visitors to step into the very space where Cézanne created some of his last and most acclaimed works. Preserved much as it was during the artist's life, the space is filled with his personal belongings, painting equipment, and the serene light that inspired his revolutionary approach to color and composition. This intimate setting, nestled amidst the Provençal landscape that Cézanne so often depicted, provides a profound insight into the artist's creative process and his enduring legacy in art.

Cezanne Walk

Follow the path of the French artist, Paul Cézanne on this self-guided walk through the city.  Sometimes considered the father of modern art because of his paintings structured from geometric shapes and his emphasis on light and color, his symapthetic story and character make this walk an exceptional way to spend one's time.  See the places where the artist studied, lived, and worked as you explore museums housing his artwork and visit the studio in which this master painted.

Say Hello to One of Aix's Most Lauded Residents...

In Paul Cézzane's later life he took up residence in Aix, but throughout his career, the nearby Mont Ste. Victoire remained a great, prehaps his greatest, muse. This statue pays respect to this master Impressionist, and invites you to explore his life here.

Walk in the Footsteps of Ancient Greeks at This 2600-year-old Port

The Vieux Port of Marseille is, in a sense, where France began its long march through Western Civilization, as Greek settlers arrived here in 600BC.  Since that time at least, it has been a port, with countless ships arriving and countless feet stepping upon its piers. Surrounded by historic fortifications, such as Fort Saint-Nicolas and Fort Saint-Jean, the port today is as it has often been, a lively area filled with fishing boats, yachts, and vessels of all sizes. Visitors can stroll along the quayside, indulge in seafood at the numerous restaurants, or simply enjoy the panoramic views of the Mediterranean Sea. The daily fish market on the Quai des Belges offers a glimpse into the port's bustling trade activities.

Take a Short Pilgrimage, If Just for the Views!

The basillica of Notre-Dame de la Garde, often referred to as "La Bonne Mère," keeps its protective watch over the city. This iconic symbol, situated on a limestone outcrop, offers panoramic views of Marseille and the Mediterranean Sea. Known for its mix of Romanesque and Byzantine styles, the basilica boasts intricate mosaics and a prominent golden statue of the Virgin Mary on its bell tower. It is a place of pilgrimage and reflection.

Excursion to Marseille

Greeks settled here in 600BC, and the port hasn't stopped since.  Walk through at least 2600 years of history, try fresh fish, and get a feel for a French city that revels in its distance (geographically, culturally, gastronomically) from Paris.  Grittier, louder, but no less charming, Marseille will pleasantly shock you with its energy and breathtaking panoramas of itself and the Mediterranean sea. And should you long for the crash of waves upon cliffs, the inestimably beautiful National Park of the Calanques.

Dive into the Cultures of the Mediterranean Sea

The MuCEM (Musée des Civilisations de l'Europe et de la Méditerranée) in Marseille stands as a monumental celebration of Mediterranean cultures, seamlessly blending contemporary architecture with centuries-old heritage. Situated at the waterfront, this striking museum designed by architect Rudy Ricciotti, connected to the historic Fort Saint-Jean by an elegant footbridge, invites exploration into the diverse and complex tapestry of Mediterranean civilizations. Through its innovative exhibitions, the MuCEM profoundly investigates the historical, cultural, and social dynamics of the Mediterranean region through a rich collection that spans from ancient artifacts to modern art. The museum offers breathtaking views of its very subject, the Mediterranean Sea.

Gourmet Tour

Experience the best of Provence with this Gourmet Tour, including both food and wine tastings. Sample crusty bread, tapenades, rosé wines, goat cheese, and more in the evocative setting of the Luberon Valley. A special local delight is the famous candy of Aix-en-Provence: the Calisson. Made with almonds and candied fruits, its sweet tradition dates back to the 15th century. Your knowledgeable guide will explain to you the time-honored traditions and culinary processes of Provence on this full-day tour, designed to appeal to all ages.

Gourmet Tour

Experience the best of Provence with this Gourmet Tour, including both food and wine tastings. Sample crusty bread, tapenades, rosé wines, goat cheese, and more in the evocative setting of the Luberon Valley. A special local delight is the famous candy of Aix-en-Provence: the Calisson. Made with almonds and candied fruits, its sweet tradition dates back to the 15th century. Your knowledgeable guide will explain to you the time-honored traditions and culinary processes of Provence on this full-day tour, designed to appeal to all ages.

Gourmet Tour

Experience the best of Provence with this Gourmet Tour, including both food and wine tastings. Sample crusty bread, tapenades, rosé wines, goat cheese, and more in the evocative setting of the Luberon Valley. A special local delight is the famous candy of Aix-en-Provence: the Calisson. Made with almonds and candied fruits, its sweet tradition dates back to the 15th century. Your knowledgeable guide will explain to you the time-honored traditions and culinary processes of Provence on this full-day tour, designed to appeal to all ages.

Gourmet Tour

Experience the best of Provence with this Gourmet Tour, including both food and wine tastings. Sample crusty bread, tapenades, rosé wines, goat cheese, and more in the evocative setting of the Luberon Valley. A special local delight is the famous candy of Aix-en-Provence: the Calisson. Made with almonds and candied fruits, its sweet tradition dates back to the 15th century. Your knowledgeable guide will explain to you the time-honored traditions and culinary processes of Provence on this full-day tour, designed to appeal to all ages.

This wasn't a home-away-from-home; this was home!

From 1305-1378 the Roman Catholic Church was ruled from... Avignon.  Theocratic intrigue in Rome led to the move, and the popes here enjoyed relative safety, and a view of a better river (The Rhone River of Avignon is much prettier than Rome's Tiber).  After St. Catherine of Siena convinced a pope to return to Rome, and the inevitable disputes ended, the palace gradually fell into disrepair, and the palace was even used as a barracks for Napoleon's armies. Today, one can marvel at the architecture, and learn a thing or two about the dramas of centuries past.  A visit is a beautiful education...

This Bridge Doesn't Work, but Millions Have Walked upon It All the Same

The St. Bénézet Bridge, known affectionately as the Pont d' Avignon (Bridge of Avignon) has spent much of its existence a ruin. From the 1200s until the 1700s, when the Rhone River flooded, it often destroyed the bridge, originally 900m (nearly 3000 feet).  The city finally had enough and left it.  And then it became a symbol of the city and started drawing people from around the world. Brilliant!  There is something romantic to it, to walk out along it's narrow width at dusk towards the middle of the Rhone.  It's so beautiful it might make you want to danse... Sur le pont d' Avignon L'on y danse, l'on y danse...

Admire the living wall outside before tasting the best of Provence within.

Spend some time to assemble your own lunch or dinner with help from the sumptuous stalls at Avignon's Halles.  Fruits, vegetables, cheeses and meats will all come and go with the seasons.  An early spring visit here can proffer the delicious strawberries from nearrby Carpentras, and a midsummer exploration will deliver you the incomparable melon d' Cavaillon.  Pair those with some jambon or a fresh Provençal goat cheese, pick up a bottle of rose from Tavel, and you are well on your way to gourmet heaven!

Excursion to Avignon

Avignon boasts a particular medieval history as the seat of the Roman Catholic church in the 14th century. Its grandeur, though illustrious, is tempered by the Provençal sun and wind, and the sometimes irreverent Festival d' Avignon, a summer theather event that draws crowds from all of France. Highlights of a visit include the Palais des Papes, a massive, Gothic structure fit for a pope, the Pont d' Avignon which will make you want to dan-ce, dan-ce, and les Halles, an exceptional food market with a verdant exterior.

This Cathedral Provides Shelter From the Heat of the Day and Many Other Respites...

... Dating back to the 12th century, this Romanesque cathedral is renowned for its striking architectural features, including a beautifully decorated facade and a prominent gold-leaf statue of the Virgin Mary that crowns its bell tower. Inside, the cathedral houses an array of religious art, significant ecclesiastical items, and the tombs of several Avignon popes, reflecting its central role in the history of the Avignon Papacy.  But given that history, a simplicity remains, a elegance hard-won through trials and tribulations.

Take Aristocratic Views of Provence and the Papal Palace

Perched atop a rocky outcrop, Le Jardin des Doms overlooks The Palais des Papes and Notre Dame (of Avignon, mind you) on one side and panoramas of the Provençal countryside on the other. Established in the 19th century, this verdant park is a welcomed retreat within the walled city with its limestone pathways, majestic trees, and tranquil ponds.  These elements add to the cool and restful atmosphere of the park.

Mediterranean Wine Tour

Good wine has been a tradition here for thousands of years; taste that history on this day-long excursion to Bandol and Cassis.  These towns and their epoymous regions will prove that both red and white grapes can adapt to hot weather and still make elegant wines.  Bandol reds, made primarily from the rugged grape Mouvedre, will suprise you with their depth, while Cassis whites will echo the tastes and light of the Mediterranean near which their vines grow.  Your guide will be happy to go as deeply into the wines' stories as possible, or simply let you taste soemthing new!

Mediterranean Wine Tour

Good wine has been a tradition here for thousands of years; taste that history on this day-long excursion to Bandol and Cassis.  These towns and their epoymous regions will prove that both red and white grapes can adapt to hot weather and still make elegant wines.  Bandol reds, made primarily from the rugged grape Mouvedre, will suprise you with their depth, while Cassis whites will echo the tastes and light of the Mediterranean near which their vines grow.  Your guide will be happy to go as deeply into the wines' stories as possible, or simply let you taste soemthing new!

Mediterranean Wine Tour

Good wine has been a tradition here for thousands of years; taste that history on this day-long excursion to Bandol and Cassis.  These towns and their epoymous regions will prove that both red and white grapes can adapt to hot weather and still make elegant wines.  Bandol reds, made primarily from the rugged grape Mouvedre, will suprise you with their depth, while Cassis whites will echo the tastes and light of the Mediterranean near which their vines grow.  Your guide will be happy to go as deeply into the wines' stories as possible, or simply let you taste soemthing new!

Mediterranean Wine Tour

Good wine has been a tradition here for thousands of years; taste that history on this day-long excursion to Bandol and Cassis.  These towns and their epoymous regions will prove that both red and white grapes can adapt to hot weather and still make elegant wines.  Bandol reds, made primarily from the rugged grape Mouvedre, will suprise you with their depth, while Cassis whites will echo the tastes and light of the Mediterranean near which their vines grow.  Your guide will be happy to go as deeply into the wines' stories as possible, or simply let you taste soemthing new!

Pastry Baking

Immerse yourself in the delightful world of French pastry making with this 3-hour course in Aix-en-Provence. Learn the art of crafting perfect French pastries from an expert chef in a cozy, well-equipped kitchen. This experience offers a hands-on approach, allowing you to create and taste a variety of traditional pastries from Provence and other parts of France. Ideal for culinary enthusiasts and those looking to add a unique twist to their visit to Aix-en-Provence, this baking course provides not only new skills but also delicious memories.

Pastry Baking

Immerse yourself in the delightful world of French pastry making with this 3-hour course in Aix-en-Provence. Learn the art of crafting perfect French pastries from an expert chef in a cozy, well-equipped kitchen. This experience offers a hands-on approach, allowing you to create and taste a variety of traditional pastries from Provence and other parts of France. Ideal for culinary enthusiasts and those looking to add a unique twist to their visit to Aix-en-Provence, this baking course provides not only new skills but also delicious memories.

Pastry Baking

Immerse yourself in the delightful world of French pastry making with this 3-hour course in Aix-en-Provence. Learn the art of crafting perfect French pastries from an expert chef in a cozy, well-equipped kitchen. This experience offers a hands-on approach, allowing you to create and taste a variety of traditional pastries from Provence and other parts of France. Ideal for culinary enthusiasts and those looking to add a unique twist to their visit to Aix-en-Provence, this baking course provides not only new skills but also delicious memories.

Pastry Baking

Immerse yourself in the delightful world of French pastry making with this 3-hour course in Aix-en-Provence. Learn the art of crafting perfect French pastries from an expert chef in a cozy, well-equipped kitchen. This experience offers a hands-on approach, allowing you to create and taste a variety of traditional pastries from Provence and other parts of France. Ideal for culinary enthusiasts and those looking to add a unique twist to their visit to Aix-en-Provence, this baking course provides not only new skills but also delicious memories.

Marseilles Airport Dropoff by Taxi

Aix en Provence taxis are generally reliable and honest, so taking a taxi is cheaper than a pre-arranged transfer. Your hotel will be happy to arrange a pick up for you. If you are picked up about 2 hours and 45 min before your departure time, you should arrive at the airport with just under two and a half hours to spare. If you are leaving during rush hour, you may want to budget an extra twenty minutes or so. The Full Itinerary also contains alternative instructions on taking the train or metro to the airport.

Marseilles Airport Dropoff by Taxi

Aix en Provence taxis are generally reliable and honest, so taking a taxi is cheaper than a pre-arranged transfer. Your hotel will be happy to arrange a pick up for you. If you are picked up about 2 hours and 45 min before your departure time, you should arrive at the airport with just under two and a half hours to spare. If you are leaving during rush hour, you may want to budget an extra twenty minutes or so. The Full Itinerary also contains alternative instructions on taking the train or metro to the airport.

Marseilles Airport Dropoff by Taxi

Aix en Provence taxis are generally reliable and honest, so taking a taxi is cheaper than a pre-arranged transfer. Your hotel will be happy to arrange a pick up for you. If you are picked up about 2 hours and 45 min before your departure time, you should arrive at the airport with just under two and a half hours to spare. If you are leaving during rush hour, you may want to budget an extra twenty minutes or so. The Full Itinerary also contains alternative instructions on taking the train or metro to the airport.

Marseilles Airport Dropoff by Taxi

Aix en Provence taxis are generally reliable and honest, so taking a taxi is cheaper than a pre-arranged transfer. Your hotel will be happy to arrange a pick up for you. If you are picked up about 2 hours and 45 min before your departure time, you should arrive at the airport with just under two and a half hours to spare. If you are leaving during rush hour, you may want to budget an extra twenty minutes or so. The Full Itinerary also contains alternative instructions on taking the train or metro to the airport.