Aix-en-Provence has the elegance of Paris combined with the warmth of Southern France. This traditional Provençal town is distinguished by its shady tree-lined streets, historic squares, and ornate fountains. A legacy of the ancient Roman heritage, one thousand flowing monuments are found throughout the city. The hub of Aix-en-Provence is the Cours Mirabeau, a broad boulevard with outdoor cafés that are bustling on sunny days and balmy evenings.
Other places that are top on tourists' sightseeing lists are the Cathédrale Saint-Sauveur, with its flamboyant mix of architectural styles, and the Musée Granet, an exceptional fine arts museum with masterpieces by Ingres, Rembrandt, Rubens, Cézanne, Monet, and Picasso, among others. Lovers of Post-Impressionist art should tour the Atelier Cézanne (studio), on the Colline des Lauves, where Cézanne painted his "still life" pieces. Near the studio is a spot on the Chemin de la Marguerite overlooking Mont Sainte-Victoire, the landscape Cézanne cherished and that inspired him to create many paintings.
Many travelers visit Aix-en-Provence to experience the traditional outdoor Provençal markets, held at the town's spacious squares. At the Place de la Mairie is a popular flower market that's pictured in many tourist brochures, while fruit and vegetable markets are found at the Place des Prêcheurs and Place de la Madeleine.
Aix-en-Provence's most traditional farmer's market is held daily at the Place Richelme; this market is considered one of the best fruit, vegetable, and gourmet food markets in Provence. Aix-en-Provence is also renowned for its local cuisine, artisanal culinary products, and specialty items such as Calissons d'Aix, sweet almond candies.
For fine dining, L'Esprit de la Violette (10 Avenue de la Violette) is a Michelin-starred restaurant that prepares modern Provençal cuisine from the finest local ingredients. The legendary Brasserie Les Deux Garçons (53 Cours Mirabeau) has a sidewalk terrace where patrons can watch the world go by. Cézanne was once a regular habitué, and Picasso, Camus, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Edith Piaf were also counted among the celebrity patrons
