Family week-end in Aix-en-Provence

Last spring, we organised a family weekend in Aix-en-Provence, while our eldest daughter was preparing for her Sciences Po exam (which she failed). The trip allowed us to combine business with pleasure: hiking in the surrounding area while our daughter was revising, then exploring the city of Aix with our two children on the Sunday.

In this article, I share our 2-day itinerary in Aix-en-Provence as a family in the spring, with the activities we enjoyed and those we’ve identified for a future visit.

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Family outing around Aix: Hiking on Sainte Victoire Day 1

For nature lovers like us, a hike to Mont Sainte-Victoire was a must. This majestic mountain, a source of inspiration for many artists, offered us spectacular panoramic views while miss Voyageuse took her competition and avoided her moaning during the hike ;D.
We set off from the Col des Portes to reach the Pic des Mouches in around 4 and a half hours. The view from the Col des Mouches was superb, offering us a landscape we’re not used to. It’s a fairly easy hike, with the start on a path that’s far too wide to be interesting!

• Km: approx. 12
• Difference in altitude: 500m
• Duration: 4h30

What to do in Aix en Provence with your family – Day 2

Count the fountains on the Cours Mirabeau

There’s no escaping a stroll along the Cours Mirabeau, a lively avenue lined with majestic plane trees and elegant fountains. With the kids, have fun counting the fountains in all their different styles. There’s plenty of street entertainment too, from acrobats to hip-hop dancers. We were very impressed by the number of American groups visiting the city.
At the very end, we came to the Rotonde fountain, an emblematic symbol of Aix-en-Provence. We then spent some time at the Tourist Office, where there was a drawing activity that Mini Voyageur, our artist, wanted to try out.

Don’t miss the Cézanne studio… if you book in advance!

Set in a beautiful villa surrounded by lush gardens, this museum is dedicated to the life and work of the famous post-impressionist painter, Paul Cézanne. Families can learn all about Cézanne’s art, including his famous still lifes, his portraits and his depictions of Mont Sainte-Victoire, which he immortalised in numerous works. The interactive exhibition had been recommended to me by several of you!
Unfortunately, you can’t get there from one day to the next without booking, even during the spring holidays. You’ll have to go back.

• Times: open Tuesday to Saturday – open TLJ in high season from 9am to around 6pm
• Price: 13.50 / adult – 3.50 for 13-26 year olds – free before that
• For further information

Walking in Cézanne’s footsteps in Old Aix

On the second day, this time with 4 of us, our exploration took us to the heart of Vieil Aix, a historic district of narrow streets, colourful houses and shady squares. So as not to wander at random, we had downloaded a route from the website that took us past the places frequented by the famous painter Cézanne. We were charmed by the picturesque atmosphere, discovering craft shops and friendly cafés. We also saw

• Saint-Sauveur Cathedral, a true Gothic masterpiece,
• the Passage Agard
• The Clock Tower
• The Mazarin Quarter and the Hotel de Caumont art museum

Admire the paintings at the Musée Granet: temporary exhibition

For a cultural touch, we visited the Musée Granet, which houses an impressive collection of works of art, from the Renaissance to the 20th century. The exhibitions specially designed for children were a big hit, with interactive activities to raise their awareness of art.
However, at the time of our visit, part of the collection was inaccessible. But we particularly enjoyed the David Hockney collection, whose colourful paintings were a big hit with Mini Voyageur. A children’s booklet kept him busy for 3 or 4 rooms, but then he got bored.
We were delighted to discover this artist.

• Length of visit: 2 hours without seeing the entire collection, which was not accessible.
• Times vary according to the season
• Price: €8 / adult – free for under-18s
• Free children’s booklet on different themes and exhibitions available from reception
• Recommended equipment for babies: stroller allowed if not too many people, otherwise ventral baby carriers.
• Pour en savoir plus:

A break at the Pavillon Vendome

Although we weren’t attracted by the Palais museum, we did enjoy a little snack break in the garden just before the Palais Vendôme garden, and then our curiosity led us to wander around the garden to admire the palace from the outside.

Eating calissons

It’s impossible to pass through here without tasting the famous calissons. There are so many shops selling them that our sales assistant was so surprised when she heard us speak French!
This speciality, one of the 13 traditional Provençal Christmas desserts, is made from candied melon fruit paste and crushed almonds, covered in a glaze. Although my children aren’t very fond of food and aren’t very curious about flavours, they really enjoyed this delicacy.

Preparing your stay in Aix en Provence with your family

Where to stay in Aix en Provence as a family?

Coming to accompany Miss Voyageuse for the Science Po exam, we stayed in an Appart’Hôtel Odalys City L’Atrium, located not far from her exam venue, and perfectly situated for getting to the old town of Aix. For around a hundred euros, we had a room for the parents, while the children slept on the sofa. But the kitchenette allowed us to have breakfast and dinner on the premises.

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How do I get to Aix-en-Provence with children?

• By plane : fly to Marseille Airport
• By train: this city is also served by the TGV – from Paris: only 3h40 by train – from Lyon: 2h – Toulouse: 4h30 Book your tickets here
• By car: as a family, with 4 friends or in a car pool, the car is still very practical, except for parking. From Toulouse: 3h30 – From Lyon: 3h – From Nice: 2h