The city possesses a rich historic and architectural heritage, which you will never get tired of admiring as you stroll its streets, and also many museums, the cultural gems of Aix:
Cezanne's studio
Is it possible to talk about Aix without talking about Cezanne ? This child of Aix has made people admire the landscape around Aix in museums around world. You can visit his studio and garden which have been completely restored and where he painted some of his greatest masterpieces.
The Caumont Art Centre is a veritable cultural institution devoted to the Fine Arts. It is set up in the former Hôtel de Caumont mansion, a remarkable 17th century building.
The Archbishops' Palace
Adjoining to the St Sauveur Cathedral, the former palace of the archbishops of Aix en Provence houses the Tapestry Museum on an upper floor, and during the month of July, the principal events of the Festival of Song.
The Cours Mirabeau and the Rotonde Fountain.
On the General de Gaulle Square, it is at the crossroads of several avenues and signals the beginning of the Cours Mirabeau. Built in 1860, this large fountain (32 m in diameter and 12 m high) has a cast-iron basin. The basin is decorated with angels astride dolphins, lions and swans. Three statues symbolizing Justice, Agriculture and the Fine Arts surmont the fountain. The statue representing Justice, sculpted by Ramus, faces the Cours Mirabeau, that of Agriculture, sculpted by Chabaud, faces in the direction of Marseille and that of Fine Arts faces in the direction of Avignon.
The immense Granet Museum treats your eyes to more than 12,000 works and masterpieces with its collections of 17th to 21st century paintings from the French School, 10 paintings by Cézanne, the “child of the land”, the Meyer donation of a sumptuous collection devoted to the European masters of 20th century modern art "from Cézanne to Giacometti", a sculpture gallery and rooms devoted to archaeology, the Celto-Ligurian civilisation in particular.
The Pavillon Vendôme with its magnificent French-style gardens is a folly inherited from the Grand Siècle and which had been the meeting place for the two lovers, the Duke de Vendôme and La Belle du Canet. In addition to a beautiful collection of portraits and furnishings, the museum presents contemporary and modern art exhibitions.
The Joseph Sec Mausoleum
At the end of the 18th century, Joseph Sec had constructed this revolutionary architectural monument. To see : the pavilion, the mausoleum around the enclosed garden and the sculpted facade.
The Vasarely Foundation
At the entrance to Aix, you will find the Vasarely Foundation, founded by the unequaled master of geometric abstract, inventor of optical art, who wanted to reconcile modern art with architecture and urbanism.