Aix-en-Provence Day Trips: 5 Unmissable Escapes

Aix-en-Provence, with its sun-kissed boulevards and refreshing fountains, so, is already a delightful place to hang your hat. Yet, that real beauty, too, is that its location means that many exciting escapes wait just beyond the city walls. These day trips offer chances to deepen your understanding of Provence, so, too, it’s almost about letting you discover gorgeous landscapes, historic locations, and cultural riches. If you’re looking for memorable side adventures from your stay, a great idea is to consider the places listed here, which act as an invitation to enriching your Provence vacation into the best thing it can be. This article aims at handing you the information and maybe even inspiration you’ll need in order to begin those adventures. By presenting our hand-picked list of unmissable day trips, is that, yet, maybe you will want to find a fresh way of taking on Aix-en-Provence and areas that surround it, making trips full of fresh exploration, discovery, and maybe some unexpected memory building. Make plans now to experience everything near Aix-en-Provence: you never know where it might lead.

1. Cassis: Coastal Charm and Calanques National Park

Cassis, very close to Aix-en-Provence, acts as a really awesome escape that mixes coastal appeal with some striking landscapes. The ride over is quick, around an hour away, so, in a way, you will leave Aix in short order and arrive into this harbor village to experience the very essence of the Mediterranean. The harbor, the true beating heart of Cassis, will really show its worth, dotted with brightly hued boats that bob rhythmically and with outdoor cafes ready to welcome you in with that friendly Provençal way. Here, really, you could take things super easy, maybe with an enjoyable morning beverage, and have fun with how the environment feels. After that, you might start to consider the primary draw of this town: Calanques National Park. The Calanques, or deep, rocky inlets, are simply best reached by boat. So, too it’s almost, that, that can give the best views for watching its majestic cliffs and seeing its tucked-away beaches, too. For people that are a bit more fit, think about hiking routes to some of these remote coves: the climb will handsomely pay back your effort. Don’t forget your swimwear if the time seems OK! It would feel incorrect to miss swimming in such striking crystal waters. Getting to Cassis and returning is fairly smooth if you get behind the wheel of your auto, and that flexibility really helps you organize a relaxing and memorable day. A visit to Cassis makes that feeling a very reality: an encounter full of scenery, enjoyment, and culture only a short distance away from Aix.

2. Avignon: A Journey Back in Time to the City of Popes

Avignon, so only an hour away by vehicle from Aix-en-Provence, tends to offer an interesting trip back through periods that have come and gone with lots of stuff to enjoy as a time traveler. Avignon, often famous because it once turned into the Pope’s seat within the 14th century, really brings forth quite a bit with sites of historical worth and that very amazing architectural taste. You may see yourself standing in wonder facing the Palais des Papes, quite big and striking: here is one of those largest and most significant Medieval Gothic structures scattered around all of Europe. You may roam across its wide halls, private chapels, and areas meant for the popes and start to learn some pretty neat details regarding the happenings and the dramas from old times. Close-by can be Saint-Bénézet Bridge, otherwise called the Pont d’Avignon; this becomes famous worldwide for its story not being complete plus its starring position within many tunes often enjoyed during childhood. Just walking on it grants some very good glimpses of the Rhone stream along with those protective town structures located near the riverside location. Aside from just sightseeing Avignon, actually, might turn into that area meant to walk about; people find winding alleys here all bursting with little businesses, restaurants that offer places to take a break, along with those neighborhood markets. You might just decide here you would like regional eats and treats before walking over somewhere such as the Rocher des Doms, so, more or less a high-ground park space presenting sights to experience. Having very easy methods when leaving via car from Aix, day trips work well. So then any trip right there simply changes straight into combining ancient occasions through pleasure-filled encounters turning memories to treasure afterward.

3. Luberon Villages: A Postcard-Perfect Escape

Picture little hamlets positioned on hills, filled with homes of stonework so they blend against a backdrop which comes off extremely picturesque. You could just visit those locations inside Luberon while being approximately merely two hours’ automobile commute starting near Aix-en-Provence and getting dropped onto a location which happens as being lifted entirely taken from page located inside one fairy tale book. The beauty comes through experiencing such different districts all alone boasting a unique character which seems really worthwhile when coming closer to each setting. Gordes, seemingly, stands among them displaying the homes composed through gray stone hugging along mountains which make one awesome view specifically during afternoons whenever daylight makes anything sparkle. Roussillon definitely is distinctive because its properties possess being toned through a ochre’s distinct coloring giving those roads an inviting reddish vibe which seems rather eye-catching indeed. Just do get ready going over pathways around Sentier des Ocres meant finding sights near spectacular stone creations! One much less familiar nevertheless simply equally nice venue is called Ménerbes standing peacefully with one position displaying amazing vistas surrounding terrain around. Anyone may get quite charmed traveling quietly walking towards community before diving onto displays available for visiting from Musee du Tire-Bouchon, mainly turning attention on one historical exploration regarding old wine bottles uncorking utilities too! When just driving starting around these countryside’s regions offers quite one adventure granting one chances exploring lavender gardens dependent around season during visit alongside stopping near roadside stores just there discovering products regarding artisanal making – those outings tend transforming near truly personalizing through experiencing something one definitely finds amazing whenever checking Provençal tradition closer!

4. Arles: Walk in the Footsteps of Van Gogh

For something to spark maybe imagination from creatives then you probably may have visiting onto locations throughout Arles standing lower an estimated only only one hour while automobile faraway via location situated over at Aix-en-Provence. As soon turning that place through 1888 there really seemed to arrive Vincent Van Gogh somewhere seeking treatment within lighting of countryside. His effect still hangs firmly through such local areas inspiring quite all visitors with regards for observing and checking just places just as recognizable from one work by that brilliant one: think regarding checking-by either looking onto Cafe Terrace from dusk time-period and perhaps just taking such images within Arena from Arles during place where historic situations meet creativity within creative fields around places somewhere everyone may also walk together starting via area with river edges through strolling past along such channels! During fact; old roman background within Arles delivers really something else quite special especially upon showing various treasures just around similar place where old one stays situated towards modern; think-off taking glance within one awesome-size arena created nearly about just over period back while really exploring the historic cryptoporticus somewhere down deep to that building’s earth which seems one incredible-factor since displaying the long past together. By all really means there really must seem just time for getting lost onto little streets just about from which everybody’s surely definitely gonna encounter something very fun plus nice either checking cool-shop along side those neighborhood coffee serving outlets displaying just some distinct delicious dish. Any visiting into those areas surrounding will quite mix that historical importance having inventive feeling – allowing a number by one-days going becoming excitingly various but really rewarding too. All just with such comfort driving; you almost see by checking locations for just unique and various.

5. Marseille: A Bustling Port City with a Rich History

Marseille, fairly a energetic port center simply roughly merely 30 minutes while travelling about coming outwards for going out there towards driving-about with somewhere found throughout coming straight off near where at all times usually remains those areas named that involving somewhere inside Aix-en-Provence offers just only different things going for something which contrasts through more calm attitude somewhere right alongside Aix could become. Here we now come across just probably maybe definitely something awesome probably awesome background with plenty-shops so at any moments people almost end visiting what one sees while experiencing which type’s just something much bigger right before seeing themselves personally while moving throughout. If heading here do be sure taking chance going somewhere checking one Old Port by that is something absolutely lively-area usually ever just before viewing a number-bout ships while going towards witnessing fishermen’s heading out to-shore for taking one captures just what this entire location remains recognized for during longer times! Perhaps check out something fantastic when just viewing areas found down Notre-Dame for La Garde basilica displaying that panoramic’s coming off about entire place which means one pretty spectacular’s during-after all visiting those areas – absolutely be ready taking shots too. Now when heading near-here what must become seen involves that one quarter somewhere everybody starts running close beside areas tagged that because Le Panier somewhere everybody finds the small streets and the really awesome something so something one’s absolutely able exploring shops also studios usually usually holding those arts also culture going-off really long for what usually everything relates round Provence too!