Aix-en-provence
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Updated : 20 Avril 2008
Aix-en-Provence is part of the French region of Provence Alpes-Côte d'Azur. It is often simply referred to as Aix. There are 140 members from couchsurfing living there and we would like you to come and visit us while you are passing through our region.
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History
Aix en Provence was founded as Aquae Sextiae in the year 122 NC, by Sextius Calvanius, after first destroying the Ligurian oppidium at Entremont. In 102 BC, Marius, who defeated the Teutons on the plain of Pourrières (20km east), embellished the town with monuments. In 45 BC, Cesar declared Aix a colony. The thermal baths were developed around 15 BC from local mineral hot springs. When the Roman Empire was recognized at the end of the 3rd Century AD, Aix became the capital of the second Narbonnaise. Aix is on the Roman road Aurelian Way.
An archbishop was installed here from around 400 AD, , although the archbishopric was established definitely in the 8th century. The Roman colony was abandoned in 574, and the early Middle Ages became a time of invasion, principally by the Barbarians and the Saracens. During this period, regional power evolved to Arles.
From the 11th to 15th centuries, Aix came back to life in stature. In 1182, the Counts of Provence took Aix as their home, and the city was known for its refined and literate court. In 1409, a university was founded by Louis II.
In 1481, following the Anjou-Provence alliance, Provence was leagued to the crown by Charles III of Maine, Provence's last ruler. Good King René (Bon Roi René) (1409-80), who was one of the most literate and enlightened men of his time, ruled during Aixe's golden age, bringing art, theatre, literature and the Muscat grape to Aix and Provence. Aix became the seat of the new parliament in 1501.
Early in the 16th century, Aix was ravaged repeatedly by the Imperials. Aix sided with the Reform, against Richelieu and Mazarin, and lost.
Aix declined even further during the revolution, and was eventually supplanted politically by Marseille.
Arrivées et départs / Arrival and departure
I think that I found all the main information, but if you meet any problem, don't hesitate to contact me by mail
En avion / By Plane
Aéroport Marseille Provence (Lu-Di dép toutes les 30min, durée 30min, 7,20€). Navette Aéroport
Aéroport Marseille Provence (Mo-Su dép every 30min, journey time 30min, 7,20€). shuttle buses
The nearest airport is Marseille Provence in Marignane. Since late 2006, they also opened the MP2 terminal, a low-cost airport. It links Aix en Provence with all the major cities in Europe or north Africa (Birmingham,Bournemouth,Bristol,Brussels, Casablanca, Dublin, Eindhoven, Fez Sais, Glasgow, Göteborg,London, Madrid, Marrakech, Oslo, Oujda L. Angades, Porto, Stockholm, Venise). Here is links to : Marseille-Provence Airport, MP2 LowCost terminal, Ryanair, Easy Jet, MyAir, Jet4You, MyAir, these companies offer good deals to get in Aix.
En Train / By Train
Si vous venez de Paris, Lyon, Avignon ou d'Europe (Bruxelle, Londres, Geneve, Amsterdam,...) en TGV, vous arriverez à ‘Aix TGV’, à 15km du centre ville, des navettes vous ramènent en ville (durée 15 min, 3,70€)
ATTENTION : la ligne de train entre Aix en Provence et Marseille est fermée jusqu’en Décembre 2008, privilégiez donc les bus ‘Car 13’ (En Bus / By Bus)
CARTE DE REDUCTION : si vous avez moins de 26 ans, la SNCF propose une carte de réduction à 15€/an qui vous permet de bénéficier de 50% de réduction 7 jours sur 7 sur l’ensemble des TER de la région PACA(Trains Express Régionaux) et la plupart des lignes LER (Lignes Express Régionales), TER en PACA
En :You've got 2 train stations in Aix en Provence : ‘Aix ville’ et ‘Aix TGV’.
If you come from Paris, Lyon, Avignon or Europe (Brussel, London, Geneva, Amsterdam,...) with the TGV, you'll arrive at ‘Aix TGV’, 15km from the down town, shuttles bring you in the down town (journey time 15 min, 3,70€)
WARNING : the line between Aix en Provence and Marseille is closed until December 2008, take the shuttle coaches ‘Car 13’ (By Bus)
REDUCTION CARD : if you are under 26, you can buy a reduction card for 15€/year which allow you to have a 50% reduction 7 days / 7 in all the TER in the PACA Region(Express Regional Train) and most of the regional LER (Express Regional Line), TER in PACA
I would recommend you to buy online IDTGV or Prem's tickets.SNCF reservation
En Bus / By Bus
Fr : De nombreux bus parcours le département, lepilote.com est le site internet des déplacements dans le département. Plan du réseau en pdf
Arles (ligne 18, Lu-Sa 6 dép/j, Di 3 dép/j, durée 1h30, 5,20€)
Avignon (ligne LER 23, Lu-Sa 4 dép/j, Di 0 dép/j, durée 1h15, ~15€)
Marseille (ligne car 13, Lu-Sa dép toutes les 20min, Di dép toutes les 30min, durée 30min, 4,60€). Départ porte d'Aix, descendre le bld Charles Nedelec (suivre les panneaux indicateur dans la gare de Marseille St Charles, 5min à pied), suivre le plan ci aprés.
CARTE DE REDUCTION : le Conseil Générale des Bouches du Rhône propose au jeune de moins de 25ans une carte (5€, carte d’identité obligatoire) vous permettant d’acheter des tickets à 1€ valable sur toutes les lignes du département le weekend
En : Many lines exist in the area, (fr) lepilote.com is the website for your bus journey in the area. Map of buses in the area in pdf
Arles (line 18, Mo-Sa 6 dep/d, Su 3 dep/d, Journey time 1:30, 5,20€)
Avignon (line LER 23, Mo-Sa 4 dep/d, Su 0 dep/d, journey time 1:15, ~15€)
Marseille (line car 13, Mo-Sa dep every 20min, Su dep every 30min, journey time 30min, 4,60€). Departure from porte d'Aix, take the boulevard Charles Nedelec (follow the signs in the station of Marseille St Charles, 5min walk), follow the map hust after.
REDUCTION CARD : the 'Conseil Générale des Bouches du Rhône' offers for the young under 25 a card for 5€ (identity card is necessary) allows you to buy tickets for 1€ valid for all the lines around Aix and Marseille every weekend.
You have some bus companies like Eurolines which can get you to Aix easily. Or check this website which provides some information about bus to reach Aix Regional buses. Bus station's phone number is 08.91.024.025 (Watch out! Expensive number!!!)
By Car
Motorways A7 - A46 et A8 Paris (780 km) Lyon (300 km) Nice (175 km) Exits : Aix ouest, Aix sud - et Aix centre
Motorways A54 et A9
Montpellier (150 km) - Nîmes (120 km) - Arles (80 km)
Exists : Aix ouest et Aix sud
Orientation
Des plans de la ville sont disponible gratuitement à l'office du tourisme
Free maps of the town are available in the Tourism office
you can also take a look at this map
Se déplacer dans Aix / Transfert in Aix
Bus : AIXENBUS (pages in French). The office is into the tourism office. 1.10€/Ticket, 7.70€/10 Tickets.
Taxi : ATRA (04 42 27 71 11) are able to provide you an English speaking driver.
Location de voiture / Rent a car : ADA LOCATION (04 42 52 36 36), AVIS (04 42 21 64 16), EUROPCAR (08 25 89 69 76), HERTZ (04 42 27 91 32)
Location de vélo / bicycle rent : the city provides you bicycles for 1€/hour (the first 30min are free), this service is called v’hello (pages in French).
Information pratique / Convenient information
Most of the websites I quote here are translated in English, just click on British flag for English
Office du tourisme / Tourism office website
Mairie d'Aix / Aix city Hall Website
Banque / Bank : Societe Generale, LCL, BNP... ont des bureaux de change et vous y trouverez de nombreux distributeurs sur le cours Mirabeau / have many change desk and you will find ATM on the cours Mirabeau.
Phone : Public phones do not use coins. Instead, you must buy a card from a newspaper vendor or shop vendor. They cost about €7. Keep this in mind when attempting to contact your host.
Internet : you've got several cybercafé in Aix (3€/hour)
Urgence / Emergency : 17 , 15 or 112
Location d'appartement / rent an apartment : Adele or Mairie
Préparer votre voyage / Prepare your Journey : Check these website Le voyageur; National Geographic; Travel guide
Meetings
There are regular meetings. Regular small local meet ups take place a few times a week (going for drinks, picnics and various events). Check out the Aix-En-Provence group for more info! The group is mainly used for you to find couches, get in touch with local hosts, organising meeting around the region.
Tips
When looking for a couch don't hesitate to request it from CSers that live in the suburbs!
CouchSurfers
You can reach the couchsurfers of Aix en Provence on the CS group, Aix en Provence
Emergency couches available
For an emergency, post in the Aix-en-Provence group
What to do?
You will find here :Schedule of what to do in Aix.
In Case of Emergency
- Police Station:
- Health Urgency:
- Hospital:
- Fireman Station:
- Embassy:
- Emergency Doctor:
Gallery
 The cathedral of Aix en Provence by night |
 The Albertas square |
 The Albertas square with moonlight |
 The City Hall |
 the Etat de Provence room into the city hall |
 One the hundred foutain of Aix |
 On the weekly market |
 A Medieval street |
 The MOST beautiful House in Aix : Pavillon Vendome |
