Aix-en-Provence
What a better way to start the summer than with a weekend getaway in the French Provence? I know it might sound crazy but visiting Aix has always been a dream of mine. For the last couple of years we mainly travelled to faraway destinations which made us forget how beautiful our home country is!
So after a short train journey from Paris to Aix we made it to our lovely Airbnb. The flat was perfectly located in the old town (rue de l’annonciade) allowing us to walk to pretty much anywhere, so convenient!
Aix-en-Provence has everything you would expect from a South of France town: the mesmerizing architecture, the lively food and flower markets, the slow paced lifestyle and the never ending “apéros”.
We were so excited for this weekend and therefore asked Alfie’s best mate & girlfriend to join us to make it even better.
Jardin du Château La Coste
After exploring the charming and tiny streets of Aix, we randomly decided to go on a hike (as we always do), we figured the Mountain Sainte Victoire was a great one and we were hopeful to make it on time for the next bus ride, and guess what? We did! As we did not rent a car, we were at the mercy of urban transportation.
It was actually an easy journey and soon enough we were starting the ascent of this enormous limestone massif.
We clearly underestimated the hike, the first hour was no joke, the trail was really steep even though the rest of the hike was absolutely fine, the first part gave us sore legs. The path was rocky and very exposed but the views over the valley were insane. The mountain is mainly composed of grey and white limestone and is known for being Cezanne’s main inspiration. The Sainte Victoire became the subject of several of his paintings and we could easily understand why; the song of the cicadas along with the warm breeze gently caressing your face make this place a safe haven for anyone looking for peace and serenity.
On our way to the peak we found a little covent where hikers stop to relax and enjoy the scenic views. The place was charming and full of history so we decided to have a break there before going back down. The way back was fairly easy as it was the same path as the one to the top. Overall the hike took us 3 hours roundtrip, which is perfect if you are looking for a morning or afternoon activity. Even though we did it on a saturday the trail was clear most of the time which made it even more enjoyable.
The day after we all agreed on having a relaxing day, our bodies were still aching from the the Sainte Victoire hike! We then decided to go visit a vineyard, and what a better place to taste wine than South of France? We picked the famous Château La Coste , a beautiful domain located just 30 minutes away from Aix.
On top of drinking rosé all day we got to see some crazy modern artwork which was sporadically scattered all across the park. We also got to taste some great wine and even bought some to bring back home (unfortunately, it didn’t even make it to home, the boys drank everything the same day! ).
The boys arguing over which way to go
Aix en Provence has a really good food scene, we often went to Place des Cardeurs as it was close to our flat but also a bit less crowded than the famous Cours Mirabeau. We also treated ourselves in the morning with the delicious pastries from the Weibel Bakery… A must in the area and recommended by our hosts.
On our last day we went sailing on the Mediterranean sea. We visited the Calanques National Park, a breathtaking series of cliffs and bays between Marseille and the city of Cassis => http://www.calanques-parcnational.fr/fr (go check for yourself). Even though Alfie and I already went on this boat trip we wanted to share this experience with our friends and enjoy one more time the beauty and rawness of the Southern coast. We had so much fun that we even forgot to take pictures…
Instead here’s few pictures from the old city of Aix:
Things to know before going
If you want to hike the Sainte Victoire you can take the Line 140 from the city center and stop at “les Cabassols”. Don’t forget to bring water as there is no drinkable water on the trail.
The tourist office in Aix will have everything you need, make a quick stop there to find out the best things to do!
If you are craving a healthy but yummy breakie head to maison NOSH.
Marseille is only 45 minutes away by train, a 16 euros round trip if you feel adventurous and want to explore the region.
Love,
A