Gourmet break in and around Aix-en-Provence

On 1 September 1902, Cezanne moved into his large studio in the countryside. He worked there every day for the last four years of his life.

As all Cezanne admirers know, it is here that the painter's presence is most keenly felt. Dozens of works, notably the Grandes baigneuses, were painted in this studio of light and silence.

The Lauves studio is one of Cezanne's 3 sites, along with the bastide of Jas de Bouffan and the Bibémus quarries.


The site has small left-luggage lockers but cannot accept large items of luggage.

The wines are selected for the way in which they respect the terroir and the environment. We add herbs from our garden to our cocktails and dishes.
Good tasting products are one thing, but enjoying this good taste makes the experience even better. Both the atmosphere and cuisine are a treat for the senses in the conservatory, outdoors in the sunshine or next to the pool.

The difference spaces of the Gaodina restaurant are adapted for business meals with tables set apart from the rest, a birthday party with the whole family around a big wooden table, quick lunch breaks or a romantic dinner. Our delicious lunchtime brasserie turns into a chef's restaurant in the evening.

Here you can enjoy free, creative and extremely delicious cuisine for a great dining experience guaranteed!

440 metres long and 42 metres wide, Cours Mirabeau links the Mazarin district to the south with the old market town to the north.

Today it is one of the busiest and most lively places in Aix en Provence. With its plane trees, fountains and cafes, the Cours is extremely popular with tourists and residents alike.

Cours Mirabeau was made when the city was enlarged in the 17th century on the orders of Archbishop Mazarin and at the request of bourgeois home-owners who wanted a thoroughfare for carriages and pedestrians.

The road followed the line of the former ramparts, and the richest noble families had elegant houses built along it to show off their success, sometimes ostentatiously.

At No.4 is Hôtel de Villars, built in 1710 and named after the Governor of Provence. Its frontage has a fine entrance framed by four columns with Doric capitals.

Hôtel Isoard de Vauvenargues, at No.10, was built in around 1710. Its plain frontage hides a lavish decor, and its staircase has a metalwork railing from the late 17th century.

At No.20, Hôtel de Forbin is one of the largest on the Cours. It was built in 1656 with Aix stone from the Bibémus quarries, to the plans of Pierre Pavillon. Its beauty derives from the simplicity and symmetry of its layout. It has played host to some distinguished guests: the dukes of Burgundy and Berry, the grandsons of Louis XIV, and Napoleon's sister Pauline Borghese, among others.

The magnificence of Hôtel Maurel-de-Pontevés, at No.38, also known as Hôtel d'Espagnet, reflects the social success of its owner, Pierre Maurel. Originally a cloth merchant, he gained a noble title and his mansion was one of the first to be built in the Mazarin district from 1647 onwards.

The balcony, supported by Atlases, is typical of Aix Baroque art.
Hôtel d'Arbaud-Jouques at No.19, built around 1700, is one of the most beautiful on the Cours, with a façade entirely in dressed stone and an entrance which is probably the most ornate in Aix.

At No.53 bis, on the site of Hôtel de Gantès, Les Deux Garçons Café (destroyed by a fire in November 2019) has been an "Aix institution" since the beginning of the 19th century, and Cezanne was a regular customer there. Next to Passage Agard, at No.55, is the house where Paul Cézanne lived as a child.

There are four fountains along Cours Mirabeau. The most imposing is probably the Rotonde fountain. Its construction in 1860 marked a turning point: not only were its dimensions exceptional for the city, but it was also the first to have a cast-iron basin. The three statues adorning the fountain recall the city's principal professions: Law (facing Cours Mirabeau), Agriculture (facing Marseille) and Art (facing Avignon).

The fountain marked the symbolic entrance to the modern city, without ramparts or gates, and open to the world. Since then Aix has grown and the "Great Fountain" is in the centre of the city.

Built in 1691 by Laurent Vallon, the Nine Cannons Fountain replaced a watering fountain where flocks were brought to drink as they migrated, before Cours Mirabeau was built. Its water was used by the nuns of St Ursule (Lycée Mignet) and then by the Benedictines. The vegetation, encroaching little by little, makes it difficult to identify the sculptures. However, it was listed in 1929. Further on, the Hot Water Fountain, known as the Mossy Fountain because of the thick moss covering it, is the one where the water from the Bagniers spring flows at a temperature of 18°C. This was the first fountain built on the Cours and it is still fed by the spa water.

At the top of Cours Mirabeau is King René's fountain, designed in 1819 by Pierre-Henri Revoil. The statue which adorns it is the work of David d'Angers. It shows Good King René‚ wearing the crown of the Counts of Provence, holding in his hands the sceptre and the Muscat grapes which he introduced to Provence, and with books at his feet (to indicate his patronage of the arts and learning).

This estate is 15 km away from Aix-en-Provence, with the legendary Sainte-Victoire mountain as a backdrop, and is first and foremost devoted to the production of wine.

Further evidence of this desire to share is the warm and welcoming estate's shop which stocks a wide range of carefully selected local products (honey, jam, tapenade, terrines, local cakes, etc.) and a farmhouse inn where the chef offers elegant and inventive cuisine.

The estate organises guided tours with a prior booking and activities and entertainment all year round.

Located near Aix-en-Provence, in the heart of the Palette appellation, Château Henri Bonnaud is a family estate committed to organic farming. Between tradition and precision, the estate produces elegant and expressive wines, faithful to their terroirs. We welcome you from Monday to Saturday to discover our wines and our history. The domaine also has three gîtes facing Sainte-Victoire, combining the authentic charm of Provence with modern comforts.

The Calisson d'Aix is fully recognized as a part of the town of Aix-en-Provence's heritage and more generally as one of the gourmet symbols of Provence. Whatever your previous knowledge or interests, anyone can come and visit Roy René's magical environment, for a journey into authentic flavours in an establishment that is a hundred years old.

Just 10 minutes from the centre of Aix-en-Provence, surrounded by more than 2 hectares of almond trees, stands Roy René's Confectionery Factory, with a combination of tradition and modernity. The building was made with stone blocks from Castillon, bears the Mediterranean Sustainable Building label and also houses a state-of-the-art production area.

The factory is also home to the Musée du Calisson, which whisks visitors away on a gourmet escapade!
In this place, somewhere between the past and present, visitors go from one era to another, from one season to the next, from the blossoming of the almond trees to the harvesting, from an old crusher to this virtual tool, updated in 2025, that can produce a whole batch of real calissons in the blink of an eye!

Visitors learn about the work of the confectioners and the stages of production of these little 'delights of Provence'. They are taken deep into the fascinating, gourmet world of confectionery.

Self-guided tours of the museum and gardens from Monday to Sunday.
Individuals: Guided tours available with online booking.
Groups: Guided tours are available with a prior booking (French, English).

Find out about all the tours available on the factory's website!

Experience the traditional craftsmanship of the Maison Puyricard's Master Chocolatiers!
Come and get an immersive experience in the elegant, gourmet world of the Puyricard chocolate factory and taste the exceptional products on a tour of the production unit.

You'll appreciate the finesse of the chocolates made here, and unveil the secrets that this chocolate factory has held for so many years now.

After the tour, why not take part in a practical workshop. Under the watchful eye of a Master Chocolatier, indulge in a VIP experience and make your very own chocolate treats.
By appointment.

In addition, the chocolate factory holds the France savoir-faire d'excellence label.

2.5 km from Rognes, you'll find a farm like no other, expertly run by Hugues Christine and Anaïs GIRARD .
They invite you to discover and share their world and its riches. You can also buy and taste farmhouse cheeses made from raw goat's milk using traditional methods, as well as other farm products.
Every year, on the first Sunday in April, the "Les Cabrettes" association organizes a goat festival in our village. Goat discoveries, cheese tasting and sales, free entertainment for all... are all on the agenda.