No visit to France can be complete with just a few days in Paris. In fact, while Paris is a beautiful and historic city and is one of my all time favourites, it simply doesn't provide you with a well-rounded experience of the country.
That's where Provence comes in as the hero of the hour. One visit to this picturesque and authentically French region will have you completely under its spell. The main city, Aix-en-Provence is a highlight, however there are many quaint (I use that word far too often) and typically French towns surrounding it that can provide a lovely experience, away from the hustle and bustle of Aix; at a cheaper price too.
That was our main reason for choosing to stay in Salon-de-Provence; economic value. It ended up working beautifully, as we checked into our modest hotel, Hôtel du Midi, situated near the centre of Salon. Hôtel du Midi provided traditional, friendly French hospitality and while the rooms were rather dated, this only added to the charm and was a pleasant change to typical, soulless hotel rooms one encounters in many modern accommodations.
Luckily, we had a car we had hired in Montpellier, so getting around was easy. However, there is a bus service which allows you to transit between the Salon and Aix.
Aix was beautiful. Small, original streets and historic architecture with a distinctive sandy colour made for a picturesque experience. Cours Mirabeau, the main, wide avenue of Aix with its spectacular fountain and trees was a breeze to stroll along, with plenty of cafes, shops and restaurants to choose from.
Navigating away from Cours Mirabeau, was a maze of streets, littered with various boutiques, more cafes and open squares holding weekend markets, with fruit, vegetable, meat and cheese stalls showcasing Southern France's excellent produce. I don't think any strawberry will ever compare to the strawberries I picked up from one of the stalls that day; they were the size of my palm!
No visit to Provence would be complete without popping into a L'Occitane En Provence store and checking it out in its element. It's located at 21 Rue Espariat, Aix-en-Provence!
Then there's the fabulous Place de l’Hôtel de Ville, one of the most famous squares in Aix, bordered by the Town Hall, Corn Exchange Hall and the Clock Tower. Inside the Town Hall, the architecture is breathtaking and we even snuck into one of the conference rooms, which I don't think was supposed to be open... However, it was lavishly decorated with gold-framed portraits and paintings of various scenes; a sight to behold. One of the most memorable moments of my visit to Aix, was sitting on the steps of the fountain in this square and munching on some saucisson, cheese and baguette from the markets, taking in the sun and beautiful surroundings.
It's easy to wile away the hours wandering the streets of Aix, finding new, hidden gems around every corner and finishing the night with a dinner at one of the many traditional restaurants. Definitely the place to come for a relaxing, typically French getaway!
And now, pictures!
That's where Provence comes in as the hero of the hour. One visit to this picturesque and authentically French region will have you completely under its spell. The main city, Aix-en-Provence is a highlight, however there are many quaint (I use that word far too often) and typically French towns surrounding it that can provide a lovely experience, away from the hustle and bustle of Aix; at a cheaper price too.
That was our main reason for choosing to stay in Salon-de-Provence; economic value. It ended up working beautifully, as we checked into our modest hotel, Hôtel du Midi, situated near the centre of Salon. Hôtel du Midi provided traditional, friendly French hospitality and while the rooms were rather dated, this only added to the charm and was a pleasant change to typical, soulless hotel rooms one encounters in many modern accommodations.
Luckily, we had a car we had hired in Montpellier, so getting around was easy. However, there is a bus service which allows you to transit between the Salon and Aix.
Aix was beautiful. Small, original streets and historic architecture with a distinctive sandy colour made for a picturesque experience. Cours Mirabeau, the main, wide avenue of Aix with its spectacular fountain and trees was a breeze to stroll along, with plenty of cafes, shops and restaurants to choose from.
Navigating away from Cours Mirabeau, was a maze of streets, littered with various boutiques, more cafes and open squares holding weekend markets, with fruit, vegetable, meat and cheese stalls showcasing Southern France's excellent produce. I don't think any strawberry will ever compare to the strawberries I picked up from one of the stalls that day; they were the size of my palm!
No visit to Provence would be complete without popping into a L'Occitane En Provence store and checking it out in its element. It's located at 21 Rue Espariat, Aix-en-Provence!
Then there's the fabulous Place de l’Hôtel de Ville, one of the most famous squares in Aix, bordered by the Town Hall, Corn Exchange Hall and the Clock Tower. Inside the Town Hall, the architecture is breathtaking and we even snuck into one of the conference rooms, which I don't think was supposed to be open... However, it was lavishly decorated with gold-framed portraits and paintings of various scenes; a sight to behold. One of the most memorable moments of my visit to Aix, was sitting on the steps of the fountain in this square and munching on some saucisson, cheese and baguette from the markets, taking in the sun and beautiful surroundings.
It's easy to wile away the hours wandering the streets of Aix, finding new, hidden gems around every corner and finishing the night with a dinner at one of the many traditional restaurants. Definitely the place to come for a relaxing, typically French getaway!
And now, pictures!
