Aix En Provence

Enjoy a leisurely walking tour of alluring Aix-en-Provence, an elegant provincial city with a noble heritage. Rejoice in a picturesque drive through the Provençal countryside, a verdant patchwork of gentle foothills and bucolic valleys that stirs the imagination and stimulates the senses. Begin your exploration of magnetic Aix in the Old Quarter, meandering through narrow, cobbled lanes to Cours Mirabeau, a lively boulevard shaded by 200-year-old plane trees that is framed by cafés, bookshops and splendid mansions. Admire the Cathedral of the Holy Savior, which was built over ten centuries, resulting in its intriguing meld of architectural styles. During time on your own, you might retrace the steps of Cézanne by visiting his studio, where he painted some of his largest and most ambitious works, including The Woman with the Coffee Pot. Perhaps look for the 16th-century belfry, which boasts a marvelous astronomical clock from 1661, or shop the tantalizing boutiques of the elegant Mazarin District. Relax at an inviting café beside one of the ornate fountains gracing this refined city and soak up the charmed Provençal way of life.

• Wear casual, weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable walking shoes.
• Dress appropriately for a religious venue; shoulders and knees must be covered.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.