Aix-en-Provence, my favorite city in Provence
- virginieinprovence
- Jan 29
- 4 min read
My name is Virginie Van Der Wees. I am a French teacher for non-native speakers, and I live near Aix-en-Provence. Every morning, it is a real pleasure to wake up knowing that I live at the foot of Sainte-Victoire mountain, just 25 minutes from Aix-en-Provence.
Aix-en-Provence, a daily pleasure
I particularly enjoy strolling around Aix-en-Provence during the shoulder seasons, in spring or autumn, when the streets are calmer.
On the Cours Mirabeau, there is almost always a musician: a pianist, an accordion player, sometimes a violinist… These moments truly bring Aix-en-Provence to life.
Markets are also an essential part of daily life in Aix. They take place every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday morning.
From time to time, I like to stop by to wander and do a little shopping: pottery, Provençal tablecloths, handmade soaps… On the Cours Mirabeau, you will mainly find stalls selling clothing, fabrics, soaps, and everyday objects.
On the Place du Palais de Justice, the stalls offer pottery as well as fruits and vegetables. Other fresh produce stands can be found on Place Richelme, next to the Post Office, which is located in the former grain hall.
A flower market also sets up three times a week on the Place de l’Hôtel de Ville.
Every visit to Aix, especially to the market, is an opportunity to discover its monuments, its history, and its local specialties.
Aix-en-Provence, a historic city
Aix-en-Provence is a beautiful city that attracts many visitors every year.
They enjoy exploring the city, wandering through its narrow streets, discovering its many museums and monuments, sitting at café terraces, or simply going shopping.
But Aix is not just a pleasant place to live—it is also a city deeply marked by history.
In the old town, as you wander through the streets, you discover many monuments, such as Saint-Sauveur Cathedral. Built on the site of an ancient Roman forum, it bears witness to several centuries of history and combines different architectural styles.
Its baptistery, dating back to the early 6th century, is one of the oldest still in use in France.
The city is also home to many chapels, churches, and museums to explore—places I invite you to discover during an immersion stay in Provence.
Aix-en-Provence, a tourist city… but not only
Aix is not only a tourist destination: it is also a university city, which I know well, as I studied there for three years. The university has existed for more than 600 years. Originally, theology and law were the main subjects taught there. Today, Aix-Marseille University (AMU) has become the largest French-speaking university in France and plays a major role in the cultural and intellectual life of the city.
Aix-en-Provence, a city of art
Paul Cézanne was born in Aix-en-Provence in 1839. He lived there for most of his life and died there in 1906. He is one of the most important painters in the history of French art.
Often considered a precursor of post-Impressionism and Cubism, he profoundly influenced the artists who followed him. Picasso once said of him: “He is the father of us all.”
Cézanne was a close friend of Émile Zola until 1886, the year Zola published L’Œuvre, a novel in which Cézanne recognized himself and felt deeply hurt. Long misunderstood, Cézanne only achieved recognition later in life.
Aix-en-Provence is the city that deeply inspired Cézanne. He painted more than 80 canvases of Sainte-Victoire mountain.
His studio, located on the Lauves hill, still exists today and can be visited all year round.
Aix-en-Provence, the city of a thousand fountains
Aix-en-Provence is often nicknamed “the city of a thousand fountains.”
Founded in 122 BC by the Roman consul Gaius Sextius Calvinus, the city was once called Aquae Sextiae, meaning “city of water.” Although there are actually only about forty fountains, Aix was long known as a renowned spa town. As early as the 1st century, the city was supplied with water through Roman aqueducts.
Originally, fountains were mainly used to provide drinking water to the population. From the 17th century onward, they also became decorative and architectural elements. Some are now listed as historic monuments, such as the fountain at the Hôtel de Ville, classified in 1905.
The Rotonde Fountain is undoubtedly the most famous. Built in 1860 by Théophile de Tournadre, it marks the entrance to the Cours Mirabeau. At the top, three statues represent justice, agriculture, and fine arts—the three main activities of the city.
Its basin, supplied with water from the Verdon River, is surrounded by lions and decorated with cherubs riding swans. Long known as the “Fountain of the Three Graces,” it has become one of the symbols of Aix.
The most unusual fountain is undoubtedly the Mossy Fountain. Its warm water (around 18°C / 64°F) comes from the Bagnier spring. Designed by architect Fossé in 1667, it is now entirely covered in moss, making its original decoration invisible.
Aix, my city of the heart
Aix-en-Provence is my true home and the city I love most. Born in Paris, I first arrived in Aix-en-Provence in my early twenties, and I immediately fell in love with this city. That is why I always take great pleasure in welcoming immersion students and sharing my love for Aix and for Provence.
If you come to stay with me for an immersion program in Provence, I will help you discover the landscapes, scents, culture, and gastronomy of the region—while naturally helping you improve your French through everyday life.
See you soon in Provence,
Virginie in Provence 🌿
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