your home away from home
Provencal magic
in the heart of aix-en-provence
Welcome to your luxurious home away from home
Steps from the flower market in sunny Place de la Mairie lies this beautiful light apartment with 3 metre high ceilings and massive south facing windows so the sun streams in all day long. Wander for a minute and you reach the daily produce market in Place Richelme for your fruit and vegetable shop; stopping for a pain au chocolat in the square to watch the world go by. It's the classic lifestyle of the south of France, and you will be living it like a local.
The apartment
Living space
Pour a glass of rose and gaze out onto a gorgeous plane tree with sunlight streaming in
Stylish living room
Huge leather sofa, Slim Aarons art & wall mounted flat-screen TV
Bring home your fresh produce from the market and cook up a storm
Eat-in kitchen
Kitchen with island, eat-in bar, dishwasher and all the appliances you could ask for
Grab a baguette and some cheese from the fromagerie and dine in style
Dining with a view
Sunny 4 person dining table looking out on the square below
Where you'll sleep
Wake up next to Cezanne's famous portrait of Saint Victoire in your cozy bedroom
Comfortable queen bed with fluffy doona, designer ceiling fan and stylish vanity
Single bedroom with full-size bunks and a ceiling fan
Newly renovated bathroom with bath and heated towel rail for maximum comfort
Features
Living: huge comfortable leather couch, double glazed windows, 4-seater dining table, 50 inch wall-mounted flat screen TV, Slim Aarons art
Kitchen: eat-in bar, full size fridge/freezer, dishwasher, oven, induction stove, quality knives, Nespresso coffee machine, Sodastream, blender, wine & whisky glasses, all the cooking equipment you would want, cooking essentials
Bathroom: fluffy towels with heated towel rail to keep warm and dry
Bedrooms: 1 queen and 2 single bunks with high quality mattresses, fluffy doonas, comfortable pillows and bedding
Laundry: quality washing machine and hanging area with inbuilt fan
General: stylish built-in heater, 2 ceiling fans, plenty of storage and hanging space to settle in
Things to do in Aix
Explore the markets
There are daily food markets in Place Richelme and on Saturdays the whole town explodes with markets in every square - for the full timetable including flower markets, antiques markets and book markets see here
Enjoy a long lunch
Aix has some of the best restaurants in France - De l’une à l’autre and Café Paris are some of our favourites, followed by the best ice cream in town at Philippe Faur- best enjoyed on the sunny benches outside
People watch in the square
Aix is the perfect place to sit with a coffee and a pain au chocolat and watch the world go by. Our favourite boulangerie is Moulin d’Artistes, and Charly’s is our go-to for a Pastis under the famous plane trees.
Unforgettable day trips
Cycle the Luberon
Less than 30 mins drive brings you to the magical Luberon - hire an e-bike, cycle through the lavender, vines and olive groves and stop for a long lunch at Bistrot le 5 in Menerbes for spectacular views - make sure you pick up a bottle or two of rose on your way home at the Bonnieux wine cave! Stop by Domaine Bastide on the way back to town to taste the local olive oil and if you have time, go for a wander around Lourmarin, one of the Plus Beaux Villages de France
Lunch and swim at Cassis
Head towards the sea and in 30 mins you will arrive at Cassis, a gorgeous fishing village - stop at the harbour for famous moules frites at Poissonerie Laurent and a gelato by the sea at Maison Casalini...then work it off with a swim with a view at Plage de Bestouan and a hike over to Calanque En Vau for stunning scenery. Drop by Les Roches Blanches for an aperitif on the way home, and pick up your a bottle of Cassis D.O.P wine for dinner from Domaine du Paternel, a delicious white with a salty taste of the sea!
Climb Saint Victoire
Wake up and be inspired by Cezanne's painting of Mont Saint Victoire, drop by the market to pack the perfect Provencal picnic (don't forget the rose!) and drive 45 mins to the base. Hike ~2 hours for unforgettable views of Provence and a slice of modern artistic history - this was the favourite subject of Cezanne, and Picasso set up a studio at the foot of the mountain!
Other recommendations
Restaurants: we love Brasserie de la Mairie for breakfast with a fresh orange juice by the flower market, Le Forum on Saturdays for mussels and oysters brought in fresh from the Etang de Thau for the market, and Le Riad for delicious Moroccan in a hidden oasis
Food: drop into Madeleines de Cristophe just downstairs for the best madeleines in Aix (be prepared to queue!), pick up some amazing pork products at Charcuterie Olivier and have the cheese experience of your dreams at Fromagerie Bedarrides
Trips further afield: within an hour or two's drive you can reach so many amazing places (Arles, Avignon, Uzes, Marseillan, Iles des Hyeres) - please ask for recommendations
Le Long Weekend has even more ideas to get you inspired - see their website here
What our guests say
What a superb location! So close to everything, I loved going out for coffee in the market square each morning
Josephine, London
Thanks for having us to stay. Your apartment was the ideal place for our family to really settle in for a couple of weeks and soak up the local vibe
Peter, Sydney
Such a great place, perfect position to explore the town and with everything you need to wind down at the end of the day
Sonia, Bordeaux
