Ah, France. The country that steals hearts with its heavenly wine, completely unique culture and endless, diverse beauty. Life in France truly is La Vie en Rose. While Paris may be the most visited city in France, a small town in the south of France tops my list as the sweetest, most charming place to visit in that magical country. Meet Aix-en-Provence, the city I chose to study in for five months... and my forever home away from home.
Cours Mirabeau
When you think of popular streets in Paris, Champs-Elysées comes to mind. Cours Mirabeau is Aix's (much smaller) equivalent. This long street is bustling with lively cafés and bars, shops, libraries, offices, theatres and apartments. Cours Mirabeau is also home to Les Deux Garcons, a famous café where notable French cultural figures such as Paul Cézanne, Emile Zola and Albert Camus have dined.
The Fountains
Aix is nicknamed "the city of a thousand fountains" and it definitely lives up to the name. When you visit Aix, you'll see gorgeous fountains scattered throughout the city. Without a doubt, the most outstanding fountain is at the start of Cours Mirabeau, "La Fontaine de la Rotonde." Its beauty and eloquence are guaranteed to capture any passerby's attention. FYI: Be sure to try a crêpe at Crêpes à Gogo which is located underground in a tunnel right next to the fountain at La Rotonde. You'll have an amazing crêpe for super cheap, yum.
The Cafés
If you visit Aix, you will completely immerse yourself in French café culture because Aix is home to hundreds of cozy cafés. Living in France, a daily espresso and croissant is pretty much guaranteed. My absolute favorite café to study and lounge in was Anti-Café, a unique café concept where you pay for the time you stay and can get unlimited food and beverage. Another favorite of mine was Le Garde Manger, a café with high ceilings, a colorful patio and a modern, yet cozy atmosphere. Plus, they have the best muffins in town.
The Markets "Le grand marché"
An important piece of the south of France culture is markets. Depending on the day of the week, Aix holds markets to buy all locally produced food, flowers, clothing, soap, purses, etc...There is something for everyone. My favorite market was the flower market. Passing by it on the way to school was the perfect way to start my day with a smile.
Rue Verrerie & Place des Cardeurs
The Food
Oh, where do I start... Food in France is unlike anywhere else, in the best way possible. I ate enough pastries for a lifetime, because how could you resist 1€ pain au chocolat? It's true that the cheese is something to dream about. Oh and the bread is the perfect combination of crusty and doughy. A French specialty from Aix is calisson, a gooey candy made from fruit and ground almonds topped with a thin layer of royal icing. Oh mon dieu.
Atelier Cezanne (Cezanne's Workshop)
Artist Paul Cezanne is the most famous person to come from Aix-en-Provence. If you walk around the city, you will see "Cezanne" on cafés, a movie theater, a large statue and labeled tiles on Aix's streets. You can dine at restaurants he dined at, walk the same streets he once did and even stand in his studio where he crafted timeless pieces of artwork.
Pavilion de Vendôme
The Pavilion de Vendôme is a historic pavilion encircled by colorful, French gardens. It was built between 1665 and 1667 and has been owned by several well-known people, all of whom left their mark on the property. It is the perfect place to bring your lunch to and get completely lost in the exquisiteness of a French garden.
Mont Sainte-Victoire
The Location
A final amazing thing Aix has to offer is the location. It is only 30 minutes from the historic city of Marseille and the calanques, two hours from Verdon Gorge (the "grand canyon of Europe") and just over one hour from Cassis, an adorable beach town.
Oh, the places you'll go...
