Aix-en-Provence is the former capital of Provence. This medieval ancient city with boulevards, fountains, and mansions is the most "urban" area in Provence, because Since the 12th century, Aix has been the cultural, economic, and intellectual center of Provence. It is also the hometown of the talented painter Cézanne. You can take a Cézanne tour in the city center. Aix is ??an important international student city in France, and the double waiter cafe on the boulevard is very popular. Basic introduction Chinese name: Aix Famous attractions: Mirabeau Avenue Country: France City: Provence Recommended travel time: 1~2 days Suitable travel season: June to August every year Basic information, specialties, architecture, transportation Information, shopping and leisure, shopping, leisure, entertainment, food, dishes, fast food, drinks, accommodation, camping, budget hotels, celebrities, basic information The original meaning of Aix evolved from the Latin word "water", some people say "The best of Provence". In 122 BC, a Roman general discovered that the spring water here could cure diseases, so the city was called "Water City" - Aix. There are nearly a hundred fountains in Aix, and the tap water here is indeed delicious. , pure and no odor. Aix has a population of less than 150,000, but the number of tourists who come every year greatly exceeds this number. You can always see them on the streets in winter and summer. It has a typical Mediterranean climate, warm in winter and cool in summer, moist but not humid. Aix is ??also known as a university town. The earliest university was founded in 1409 AD. There are four or five universities in the small urban area. Students come from all over the world, so walking on the street you can see bright and lively young people of all colors. people. The specialties of lavender and wine. A local in Aix said: "Lavender is the beautiful clothes of Provence, and wine is the blood of Provence." I have seen Malraux's poem: "Beautiful lavender fields, that are the blood of grapes" "Infancy." I also saw Monet's painting "Lavender and Grapes", and even Maupassant wrote such sentences as "Purple grapes are the color of lavender." Maybe the artist really has too many fantasies, or maybe in their hearts Provence, lavender and grapes are indispensable. The most beautiful and famous wine country in Provence, fantasy leaves sweet echoes in the swaying purple lavender. This free color inspired the creation of artists, including Cézanne, Van Gogh, Monet, Picasso, Chagall, etc., who all started a new stage of artistic life in Provence. The hedonistic atmosphere of the C?te d'Azur also attracted American writers Fitzgerald, British writer D.H Lawrence, French writers Huxley, Nietzsche and others came to make pilgrimages, and of course, Peter Mayer, who pushed Provence to its peak with "A Year in Provence". Provence, lavender, and romantic colors endlessly attract tourists to come here because of the "color" smell. Specialty The most famous specialty of Aix is ??the Corinthian biscuits originated from the medieval tradition. There are many Corinthian biscuit shops on Avenue Mirabeau. In addition, markets with a wide variety of products are scattered throughout the streets of Aix. The olive oil, lavender seasoning and wine here are also famous local specialties. A local wine shop is Cave du Felibrige, located at 18 rue des Cordeliers, which has an impressive collection of wines - some of which are very expensive. In addition, there are about 20 calisson manufacturers in the city, as well as a large number of delicious French pastry shops. Tips: Candy Feast Building Little Aix has a very high-level large library: the Meranna Library. It was founded by Meranna, an Aix nobleman and bibliophile who died in 1780. Meranna's collection of 40,000 books from the 11th to 13th centuries is a very precious cultural heritage. Meranna Library was rebuilt on the original site of a match factory. The architecture is very special and the internal service facilities are very modern. Aix When people think of Aix, they will immediately think of Mihapo Boulevard. The construction of Mihapo Boulevard started in 1650. It starts from the Fountain of King Herne in the east, passes through two exquisite and lovely small fountains in the middle, and ends in the large fountain full of sculptures in the west. Although 500 meters is not long, it is not long according to Leonardo da Vinci. According to Western aesthetic theory, the width of the street is exactly equal to the height of the two buildings. The avenue divides Aix in two. The streets in the south are straight and right angles, while the streets in the north are complicated with twists and turns. The "Two Brothers" cafe, located on the north side of the avenue, opened in 1792 and has a history of two hundred years. It has always been a gathering place for famous artists and literati. Next to the towering Saint-Jean-Marette Church in the center of Aix, there is an inconspicuous beige old building. It is one of the most important art museums in southern France - the Musée Géharnet. The museum building was built in 1670 and was originally a prayer hall for the Knights of Malta. After 1828, it was converted into an art school. Later, the painter Gehane donated all his works and collections here. Later, the essence of a large number of art collections collected by the most powerful families in Aix in the 18th and 19th centuries were basically concentrated here.
Transportation Information Aviation It only takes 1 hour and 15 minutes to fly from Paris Airport to Marseille-Provence International Airport (Marseille-Provence International Airport). There is a direct bus from Marseille Airport to the city of Aix, which is 25 kilometers away and takes about 30 minutes. Railway Aix's small city center train station is located at the southern end of Avenue Victor Hugo. There are frequent trains to Brian?on (31.2 euros, 3 hours and 15 minutes), Gap (23v. 8 euros, 2 hours) and Marseille (6.2 euros, 35 minutes, at least 18 departures a day) Aix TVG train station (TGV station-Aix en Provence) is 8 kilometers away from the city center, and the city can be reached directly by bus No. D9. TGV trains allow Aix to travel to all parts of France, and even to Brussels, Geneva, London, Cologne, Milan and other places in Europe. It takes 30 minutes to get to Marseille by TGV train from Aix, 45 minutes to Lyon, and about 3 hours to Paris. There are about 20 express trains running between Aix and Marseille every day. Highway: From the bus station in Aix, it takes 10 minutes to walk southwest from La Rotonde. There are many car company services to choose from, including services to Marseille (€4.40, 35 minutes, every 10 minutes, every 20 minutes on Mondays), Arles (€10, 1 hour and 45 minutes, 5 departures a day) ), Avignon (10 euros, 1 hour, 6 departures a day from Monday to Saturday). ⊿ Transportation from the bus station to the airport and TGV train station From 5 a.m. to 23:30 in the evening, tourists can take the Navette from the bus station in Aix to the TGV train station. The fare is 3.9 euros. Marseille Provence Airport 7.9 euros, this car is a round trip bus. Shopping and Leisure Shopping The chic shops of Aix line both sides of the pedestrian street Marius Reinaud, and from there you can even walk straight ahead to the Palais de Justice on the Place de Verdun. Elegant women's clothing stores also grace Mirabeau Boulevard. Leisure Every morning, trestle tables are erected in Piazza Richelme to host a produce market with olives, goat cheese, lavender flowers, honey, peach melons and other sun-soaked products. Another food market (place des Precheurs) is open on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings. At the flower market on Sunday morning, flowers of all colors fill the Precheurs Square and the Town Hall Square. At the flea market in Place Verdun, you can also find many strange and weird things. The flea market is open every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Entertainment Visitors can find out what entertainment is available in the area by browsing the monthly In Aix magazine, which can be picked up for free at the Visitor Center. In addition, the local dance troupe Le Ballet Preljocaj performs many popular works locally when they are not touring, which is worth seeing. Film Aix's artistically talented students ensure a good supply of films, from Oscar contenders to cult dramas, mostly with English dialogue. Food Aix has delicious food from all over the world, but the most famous one is the local cuisine. Aix cuisine is the representative of Provence cuisine and is regarded as the most representative Mediterranean style with the most unique materials and the most reasonable dietary structure. gourmet food. You can also find concentrated Vietnamese and Chinese restaurants in the local area, both near Rue de la Verrerie and Felibre Gaut. Dishes The seasonings cooked in Aix are very unique, including garlic, tomatoes, cheese, tapenade, and the most important thing is the local signature herb seasonings, including rosymary, thyme, fennel and other types, which are the key seasonings for local dishes to have a unique aroma. In addition, Aix cuisine uses a wide range of ingredients, including pig's trotters, ox brain, ox stomach, ox tail, various livers and kidneys, snails, rabbits, birds, etc., coupled with unique cooking techniques and seasonings, it is an unforgettable meal. Fast food La Boulangerie du Coin Address: 4 rue Boulegon Introduction: Open 24 hours from Tuesday to Sunday, freshly baked bread every day, set menu is 7.5 euros each. Drinks There are many choices in roadside restaurants, enough to meet people's needs. The city squares are dotted with open-air eateries, especially on Place Cardeurs, Place Verdun and Place de la Ville. Les Deux Garcons Address: 53 cours Mirabeau Introduction: Since 1792, this place has been known as the best choice for tasting drinks. It was a place frequented by Cézanne and Zola. In the gilded olive salon and outside on the terrace, you will be served by waiters in dinner suits and long white aprons, holding plates aloft with one hand and clearing tables with the other. . There is also a jazz club or piano bar on the upper floor of the small restaurant. Accommodation This elegant, leisurely small town is one of the tourist hotspots in southern France. There are many hotels and hostels of all levels.
From the train station to both sides of Avenue Mirabeau, there are many reasonably priced, hygienic and comfortable hotels. Camping Camping Arc-en-Ciel Address: rte de Nice Price: 17.1 Euros Introduction: The campsite is located in a quiet mountain forest, but close to the noisy highway, about 5 kilometers from the city center. Take bus No. 3 and get off at Les Trois Sautes stop. Budget hotel Auberge de Jeunesse du Jas de Bouffan Aix Address: 3 av Marcel Pagnol Price: Bed and breakfast included, 15.7 euros per night Reservation time: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., 5 p.m. to midnight Introduction: Suitable For car owners and cyclists, it has a bar and tennis court attached. It is relatively far from the city center. Just take bus No. 4 from La Rotonde station and get off at Vasarely. Hotel Concorde Address: 68 blvd du Roi Rene Price: Standard room 43-69 euros per night Introduction: If possible when booking, you can choose a room with a view of the distant mountains among the 50 rooms. There is good barrier-free access here. It is located on the edge of the southeastern side of the center. Some rooms come with small balconies, and higher-priced rooms have air conditioning and small bar freezers. Try to avoid staying in dark rooms on the back of the first floor. Convenient on-site parking for only €7.50. Celebrity Oil painter Cézanne was born in Aix in 1839. People say he is the "father of modern art". In the history of modern art, no one can compare with his status. No. 9, Avenue Paul Cézanne, was Cézanne’s studio during his lifetime and has been opened to the public. Leave the city of Aix and follow the "Cézanne Route" eastward into Mount Saint-Victoire. Four kilometers away, there is an old yellow ocher stone house on the hillside of the old quarry. This is where Cézanne once lived. He has painted "Black Castle" on canvas many times.
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