Discovery tour

Aix has an ideal position in Provence. What is not to be missed can be seen over daily excursions without driving too far.

If you cannot stay for six days, it is still possible to arrange a shorter circuit.

Aix-en-Provence, Cézanne and the Sainte-Victoire Mountain

By foot – a two hours’ city tour

Morning: guided visit of Aix with a guide -lecturer to follow in “Cézanne’s footsteps” then free time. Note that strolling in Aix on market days -Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday morning-, offers more liveliness to the visit. You will wander through stalls with vegetables, flowers, clothes and antiques.

Free time for lunch or organised lunch for the group in one of Aix’s many restaurants..

Afternoon dedicated to Paul Cézanne (Circuit of approximately 40km): visit of Cézanne’s workshop followed by the landscapes that inspired him around the Ste Victoire Mountain called “les sites de Cézanne”.

Free time for dinner, organised dinner in one of Aix’s restaurants, or half board in the hotel.

Avignon, Les Baux de Provence, Saint-Remy

By coach – day trip – approximately 250 km

Morning: departure for Avignon, visit the Palais des Papes and the St Benezet Bridge.

Free time for lunch in Avignon or organised lunch for the group.

Afternoon: departure for St Remy de Provence and the famous village of Les Baux de Provence topped by the ruins of its castle which unveil a panoramic view over the Alpilles region. Possibilities of including a visit of the monu- mental “Carrières de Lumières” which host extraordinary multimedia shows about painters of the Mediterranean which are unique in the world.

Free time for dinner in Aix en Provence, organized dinner for the group in one of Aix’s restaurants, or half board at the hotel.

Possibilities to organise a dinner in a gastronomic restau- rant of the City

Marseilles, Cassis and its Calanques

By coach – day trip – approximately 100 km

Morning: visit of Marseilles by bus with stops at the “Vieux Port” and Notre Dame de la Garde to admire the wonderful panoramas surrounding the city of Marseilles. Enjoy fan- tastic and unique views of the city from an open top deck bus: the Vieux-Port (Old Port), the historic Panier district, the basilica of Notre Dame de la Garde with its fabulous panorama, the Corniche overlooking the sea …, then on to Cassis by the President Kennedy sea front Corniche. Back from the Prado to “Porte d’Aix”. The passenger selects the language in which he wishes to listen to comments by individual earphones

Free time for lunch in Cassis or organized lunch for the group.

Afternoon: visit of the Calanques of Cassis by boat: 3 calanques, length 45 minutes. 5 calanques, length 1 hour 10 minutes). In case of bad weather, it is possible to climb the highest cliff of Europe, Cap Canaille, and travel on to La Ciotat via the mountain ridges.

Free time for dinner in Aix, group organized dinner in one of Aix’s restaurants or half board in the hotel.

The Luberon and its superb villages

By coach – day trip – approximately 220 km

Morning: departure for the hilltop villages of Lourmarin, Bonnieux and Gordes. Possibility to visit the 12th-century Cistercian abbey of Silvacane.

Free time for lunch, or group organized dinner in Luberon.

Afternoon in Roussillon, renowned for its ochre cliffs. Optional walk on the “Sentier des Ocres” (ochre path), 45 min, then wine tasting in a vineyard.

Free time for dinner, organised dinner in one of Aix’s restaurants, or half board in the hotel.

Arles and the Camargue

By coach – day trip – approximately 300 km

Morning: visit of Arles : the Roman Arenas the antique theatre and the Cathedral with its Saint Trophime cloister.

Free time for lunch in Arles or group organized dinner.

Afternoon: Pass through the Camargue’s national park to the village of Aigues Mortes. Discover the Saintes Maries de la Mer before returning to Aix. Free time for dinner in Aix, group organized dinner in one of Aix’s restaurants, or half board in the hotel.

Aubagne "in the steps of Marcel Pagnol"

By coach – day trip – approximately 130 km

Morning: leaving Aix for Aubagne. Then guided short tour Marcel Pagnol by coach: stop at Eoures where he was born, the grocery store of his work “Le Schpountz” where one could find “Les Anchois des Tropiques”, stop at the crossroad “La Croix”, where Pagnol and his friend Lili would meet, then “La Treille” village; stop at “La Pascaline” village to visit the Bellons’ Path, Manon’s fountain, “Le Cigalon” restaurant and the graveyard where Marcel Pagnol and his family are buried. Then on to the “Château de la Buzine” – the setting of his film “Le Château de ma Mère”.

Lunch organized in one of the town restaurants.

Afternoon: will be dedicated to admire the santonniers and ceramists know-how. Visit of the 130 sq. m. house where Pagnol was born in 1895. Finally, enjoy the “Tiny World of Marcel Pagnol”, diorama built by local santon- niers and crib makers (200 unique figurines inspired from Marcel Pagnol’s films and novels gathered in a recreated provençal “garrigue” (dry and rocky hills). Returning to Aix

Free time for dinner in Aix, group organised dinner in one of Aix’s restaurants or half board in the hotel.