Aix En Provence, known simply as Aix, is a small Provençal town with some good shopping and fine architectural merit. This university town is a nice change from the hectic pace of the nearby Côte d’Azur, boasting lots of entertainment and hotels as well as being easy to get to, owing to nearby Marseille Provence Airport.

Aix has a charming Old Town and a couple of really interesting ancient thoroughfares leading to it, such as the pretty Cours Mirabeau. There are many terraced cafés here and several street markets that run a few days a week, plus the weather is almost always nice.

Lying within the Old Town,St Sauveur Cathedral is the city’s most important landmark, which hails from the 5^th century and boasts three remarkably different naves. Other major sights include painter Paul Cézanne’s house, the Roman Baths and the Mazarin Quarter, with its 17^th century buildings and string of cafés.

The best way to discern Aix is on foot, walking through Cours Mirabeau, the Mazarin Quarter and the Old Town. Pick up a museum pass while you’re at it to save on the price of entry, including that of the Granet Museum (Musée Granet), Tapestry Musuem (Musée des Tapisseries), and Pavillon Vendôme.

Aix en Provence also does well in its offering of festivals, which showcase the city’s musical prowess. Prominent festivals to look out for include the summer Saison d'Aix for chamber music, the Jazz Festival in July and the International Festival of Dance (Festival International de Danse) in August. Leisure options in the city can be found in the many parks and gardens, while nearby hiking and rock climbing and a superb go-karting circuit for kids adds to the appeal.

Farther afield is bustling and cosmopolitan Marseilles and the fabulous French Riviera, where the likes of Saint-Tropez, Cannes and Nice beckon.

Many of Aix En Provence hotels are located right in the city centre near the attractions, as well as scattered around the gorgeous countryside. Booking hotels online is great way to find a bargain nowadays.

Aix en Provence has never been more accessible, being located within close proximity to Marseille’s airport, where flights come in from all over the world, and also having a TGV station in the city centre. Trains come in regularly from Marseilles, Nice and Paris, via Avignon. A slew of important motorways also converge on Aix.

Because of its southern location on the Côte d’Azur, Aix en Provence boasts a fine Mediterranean climate with long hot summers and very mild winters. In addition, Aix sees the same amount of sunshine as Spain’s Costa del Sol region and little rain. Although the summer months are the hottest, with temperatures often hitting the mid- to high 30s (°C), this is also the busiest and most expensive time to be here.

Those looking for the sun and less crowds should consider visiting Aix in the autumn, when temperatures are still high, while wintertime is also mild. The rainiest and most blustery time to visit Aix en Provence is during the spring, when the infamous cold Mistral winds blow into the Rhône Valley at ferocious speed.