Enjoy a stay in Aix-en-Provence, a town of fountains, art, history, and culture. Averaging 300 days of sunshine, Aix (pronounced just like the letter “X”) seems to glisten with its abundance of fountains. Your week’s stay will be in Aix and your tours will not only explore this home city of Paul Cézanne, but will take you to the surrounding countryside where Mont Ste. Victoire forms the backdrop and picturesque landscape fills in the painting!
[box type=”tick” style=”rounded”]Price: $2,340 for Two Guests in a 3 Star Hotel[/box]
Tour Highlights:
- Arrival and departure transfers
- Five (5) nights in a 3-star hotel in Aix en Provence in a double room
- Breakfasts
- Guided walking tour of Aix en Provence
- Shared excursions on Day 3 and 4
- Cooking class, including lunch on Day 5
Aix en Provence Tour Details:
Aix-en-Provence
Day 1 – Arrival transfer and check-in at the Hotel
Your stay in Aix en Provence will begin with a transfer from Aix-en-Provence TGV station or Marseille airport to your 3*** hotel located in the heart of the city. The remainder of your day will be on your own to begin discovering the wonders of the city. Aix is a vibrant place that you’ll enjoy exploring.
Overnight in Aix-en-Provence.
Day 2 – Walking tour in Aix en Provence
Your morning begins with breakfast at the hotel.
Aix-en-Provence Street Scene
Then you will meet your guide in Aix-en-Provence tourism office to leave for a guided two hour walking tour. Since this city has so many treasures, you won’t want to miss any of its beautiful landmarks. During the stroll, you will discover its hidden gems and discover the Roman history of Aquea Sextiae. You will learn about Aix’s prestigious past, its phenomenal architecture, its heritage, and its monuments while listening to some surprising anecdotes as you walk in the steps of Cézanne who is most assuredly Aix-en-Provence’s most famous resident.
You will have the afternoon at leisure.
Overnight in Aix-en-Provence.
Day 3 – Luberon villages
Village of Roussillon
After breakfast at your hotel, you will meet your driver guide at the Aix-en-Provence tourism office and depart for a tour at 9:00 AM returning at 7:30 PM. You’ll be off to drive through the scenic landscape of Saeinte-Victoire Mountain that was the inspiration for the famous painter Paul Cézanne, the star citizen of Aix en Provence.
You will taste the wines from the appellation Côtes de Provence Sainte Victoria in two different wineries. Let yourself be charmed by the full-bodied reds and then elegant rosés, so typical thanks to the Mistral wind.
You’ll continue to the most beautiful villages in the Lubéron: Lourmarin, one of the most beautiful villages in France is famous for its Renaissance castle; Bonnieux, a pretty village topped by a church high above the village; Roussillon, a hilltop village famous for the bothers colors of its cliffs; and Gordes, a medieval village entirely made with the local stones called “laze”.
Overnight in Aix-en-Provence.
Day 4 – Cassis and Camargue
Village of Cassis in Provence
Morning begins with your breakfast at the hotel.
Then you will meet your driver guide at the Aix-en-Provence tourism office to depart for a morning visit to Cassis, a charming fishing port famous for the Calanques (fjord-like cliffs) on the Mediterranean sea. If you wish, you can take a cruise into the Calanques National Park (optional).
In the afternoon, you will visit the Camargue. This unique part of Provence is like no other area of France. It is a wild and unspoiled area where horses and bulls roam free, where French cowboys live, and flamingos dot the flatlands. At the tip of the Camargue is the village of Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer. With its beaches and its fortified church housing the statue of St Sara, the town is a major part of France’s gypsy cultural tradition.
Overnight in Aix-en-Provence.
Day 5 – Cooking Class
Breakfast at the hotel.
Aix-en-Provence Market Day
Spend the day discovering the Provençal gastronomy!
You’ll meet a chef to enjoy the provençal scents and flavors at the market. Back in his workshop, you’ll cook the selected products and finally savor the tasty 3-course meal that you will have prepared.
Overnight in Aix-en-Provence.
Day 6 – End of the stay
Begin with your breakfast at the hotel before your transfer to the Aix en Provence TGV station or to Marseille Airport.