Éco-Hôtels à Aix-en-Provence

Aix-en-Provence — the "city of a thousand fountains" — is one of the most refined and beautiful cities in southern France. Founded by the Romans as Aquae Sextiae in 123 BC (named for the thermal springs that still flow today), Aix became the ancient capital of Provence and has never lost its aristocratic bearing. The city's crowning glory is the Cours Mirabeau, a wide, plane-tree-lined boulevard created in 1649 that divides the medieval old town to the north from the elegant Quartier Mazarin to the south. On one side, grand 17th and 18th-century hôtels particuliers (private mansions) with ornate iron balconies; on the other, a ribbon of cafés where locals linger over espresso and pastis as light filters through the canopy of 150-year-old plane trees.

The city is inseparable from Paul Cézanne (1839–1906), the post-Impressionist painter who was born here, lived most of his life here, and spent decades painting the Montagne Sainte-Victoire — the dramatic limestone mountain (1,011 metres) that dominates the eastern horizon. Cézanne's studio, the Atelier Cézanne on the Lauves hill, remains exactly as he left it, with his easel, palette, and the objects he painted in his still lifes. You can walk the Cézanne Trail through the city, following brass markers embedded in the pavement to the places that shaped his art — from his family's Jas de Bouffan estate to the Bibémus quarries whose ochre-red rock faces appear in painting after painting.

Aix is also a vibrant university city — the University of Aix was founded in 1409, making it one of the oldest in France — and this academic tradition gives the city an intellectual energy that balances its patrician elegance. Students fill the cafés and bookshops of the old town, and the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence, one of Europe's premier opera festivals running since 1948, draws performers and audiences from around the world each July. The city sits just 35 kilometres north of Marseille, connected by frequent trains and buses, and the warm Mediterranean climate delivers over 300 days of sunshine a year. Lavender season (late June through early August) paints the surrounding countryside purple, while the daily Provençal markets at Place Richelme overflow with olives, goat cheese, honey, and fresh herbs. For sustainable travellers, Aix offers the rare combination of world-class culture, gastronomic tradition, and natural beauty — all within a compact, walkable centre. Book through IMPT for best price guarantee, 1 tonne de CO₂ éliminée par réservation, and 5% cashback on every stay.

Aix-en-Provence's compact, largely pedestrianised centre means you can see the major sights on foot without ever needing transport. Start any morning on the Cours Mirabeau — the city's spine — where the Fontaine de la Rotonde (built in 1860, with its three marble figures representing Justice, Agriculture, and Fine Arts) marks the western entrance. Stroll east beneath the plane trees, pausing at the moss-covered Fontaine d'Eau Chaude (a natural thermal spring that still flows at 34°C), and you'll reach the eastern end in about ten minutes. North of the Cours lies the medieval old town with its winding lanes, and south lies the geometric Quartier Mazarin, laid out in the 17th century by Archbishop Michel Mazarin (brother of Cardinal Mazarin).

The morning markets are essential to the Aix experience. Place Richelme hosts a daily produce market where you can buy Provençal olives, goat cheese, lavender honey, and seasonal fruits directly from local farmers. On Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings, Place des Prêcheurs and Place de la Mairie host a larger market with clothing, antiques, and flowers alongside food. Arrive before 10:00 for the best selection. For the Cézanne trail, pick up a free map from the tourist office on Place du Général de Gaulle and follow the brass "C" markers set into the pavement. The route leads from the tourist office through the old town, past the Cathédrale Saint-Sauveur, and up the Lauves hill to Atelier Cézanne (his studio, open daily, €6.50). From there, you can continue to the Terrain des Peintres viewpoint for the same vista of Montagne Sainte-Victoire that Cézanne painted obsessively.

Day trips from Aix are exceptional. Marseille is 35 km south (25 minutes by train, buses every 10 minutes), offering the Vieux-Port, MuCEM, and the Calanques. The Cassis calanques — dramatic limestone cliffs plunging into turquoise coves — are 50 km south. The Luberon villages are among the most beautiful in France: Gordes (a hill village with a Renaissance château, 45 km), Roussillon (ochre cliffs and red-earth streets, 50 km), and Bonnieux (medieval hilltop, 50 km) all make perfect half-day excursions. The Aix-en-Provence TGV station is 15 km south of the centre, connected by a shuttle bus every 15 minutes. The Festival d'Aix-en-Provence runs throughout July, with world-class opera performances in the courtyard of the Archevêché (Archbishop's Palace) and at the Grand Théâtre de Provence. Wine lovers should explore the Côtes de Provence and Palette AOC appellations — several vineyards offer tastings within a 20-minute drive of the centre.