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.

Avignon, Les Baux de Provence, Saint Rémy

Day trip approximately 250 km.

• Morning: departure for Avignon, visit the Palais des Papes and the St Benezet bridge.
• Time for lunch in Avignon.
• 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.

Visit of Marseilles, Cassis and its Calanques

Day trip approximately 100 km.

• Visit of Marseilles with stops at the «Vieux Port» and Notre Dame de la Garde to admire the wonderful panoramas surrounding the city of
Marseilles. Enjoy fantastic 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.
• Time for lunch in Cassis.
• Visit of the Calanques of Cassis by boat, 3 or 5 calanques and then free time in Cassis. 3 calanques, lenght 45 minutes. 5 calanques,
lenght 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.

Arles and the Camargue

Day trip approximately 300 km.

• Morning: Leave Aix for a visit of the town of Arles : the Roman Arenas the antique theatre and the Cathedral with its Saint Trophime cloister.
• Time for lunch in Arles.
• 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.

“In the steps of Marcel Pagnol”

Daily excursion approximately 130 km.

Marcel Pagnol was born in February, 28th 1895 in Aubagne, his beloved provençal land, the village that became the background of his films and novels. Today, the day tour “In the steps of Pagnol” invites you to catch a glimpse of the strong relationship between the writer and his native land.

• Morning: Leave Aix to Aubagne. Stop at Eoures Marcel Pagnol 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 in one of the town restaurants.
• The 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: you will probably feel captivated by the atmosphere of the time through an exhibition and a film recreating life in the early 20th century. Finally, enjoy the “Tiny World of Marcel Pagnol”, diorama built by local santonniers and crib makers – 200 unique figurines inspired from Marcel Pagnol’s films and novels gathered in a recreated provençal “garrigue” (dry and rocky hills).

The Luberon and its superb villages

A 220 km day trip by coach

• Morning: Departure for the hilltop villages of Lourmarin, Bonnieux and Gordes. Possibility to visit the 12th-century Cistercian abbey of Silvacane.
• Time for lunch in Luberon.
• Afternoon in Roussillon, renowned for its ochre cliffs. Optional walk on the “Sentier des Ocres” (ochre path), 45 min.

Aix-en-Provence, Cézanne and the Ste Victoire Mountain.

A two hours’ city tour by foot : approximately 2 hours

• 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.
• Time for lunch 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 cézanniens”.

List of selected tours in Provence with departure in front of the Tourist Office.• All the excursions are accompanied in French and in English by
guides qualified by the Ministry of Culture and Communication

More info