Arlatan-Lauris 1685

Place des Quatre Dauphins in winter

These months can be cold but with 300 days of sun the region offers comfort & blue sky in winter time . It is an ideal period to discover the real life of Aix-en-Provence without any tourist, take the time to enjoy local food and go hiking in the numerous natural areas nearby (Sainte-Victoire, Sainte-Baume, Mont Ventoux, Calanques, etc.). In February, almond trees & mimosa are in blossom, there can be a feel of spring already : eating outdoors in the sun is always possible and the blue sky is never as blue as in a clear winter day.

When the weather is cold, windy with mistral wind and even snowy, the Arlatan-Lauris apartment will be a perfect nest well heated (central heating) and capturing sun via the large windows oriented to the South. At this time of the year, you can wear sunglasses  when you sit in the middle of the living room as the sun is entering deep into the room. 

The period is also the period of ski and it is possible to combine easily a few days to the south Alps ski resorts (Grenoble - Alpes d'Huez & les Deux-Alpes or Briançon are 3 hours from Aix, but South alps smaller ski resorts are numerous and closer).

March & April will be spring and weather can be extremely mild : central eating will still be on just in case. Not yet a time to go the beach ... but this is the ideal season for hiking and enjoying nature. This is also the time for the first music festival (Easter festival in Aix dedicated to classical music - https://festivalpaques.com/) and ski is still a possible option, just avoid the 4-weeks rolling winter holiday enf of Feb. and begining of March. Very few tourist and this is also a good time to enjoy the local life in Provence, in particular locally produced vegetables from the market.

The weather is perfect for travelling around the region avoiding the traffic-jams or traffic restrictions you get in summer (Sainte-Victoire, Calanques, Côte Bleue). It is easy to book a good restaurant, no queues at museums or exhibitions, people are more relaxed than in the summer.

<< nearby Parc de la Torse in April - perfect for running or strollling

May and June will be considered by connoisseur as the best months to enjoy the region : fantastic weather but no excessive heat, Mediterranean Spring at its best, the fresh fruits and vegetables at the local market and not so many tourists (except on bank holidays in May when Parisian in need of sun come to Aix for the extended  week-end of 1st & 8th of May or Pentecost).

This is clearly the best season to discover the region : Riviera (Saint-Tropez, Cannes, Grasses, Nice, Monaco) as well as the historical cities (Avignon, Arles, Nîmes, Baux-de-Provence, Montpellier). It is also the best season for hiking in the many natural parks (Lubéron, Dentelles de Montmiral, Mont Ventoux, Calanques de Cassis ou de Marseille, la Côte Bleue, les gorges du Verdon, la Sainte-Baume .... and of course the Sainte-Victoire). Be aware that some areas can be closed in summer or with restricted access because of excessive tourims of risk of fire.

June is also the start of the many open-air festivals like the Chorégies of Orange (https://www.choregies.fr/) that takes place in the Roman theater of Orange.

Hiking in May at the top of the Sainte-Victoire

(le prieuré via Imoucha track)

Côte bleue at Ensuès-la-Redonne

July & August are the warmest and greatest months to get summer heat and spend time on the Mediterranean cost. Most French people will come to the south of France for their holidays, especially in August: as a consequence, getting to the sea shore can sometimes be difficult (Côte bleue and calanques access is restricted). Cities can be crowded with tourists and, if the temperature gets above 35°C, tourism can become a challenge. It is the best time of the year to go out in the evening and enjoy a dinner on a terrace at night.

July is the month of festivals with the renowned Aix lyrical festival where open-air operas are given in the inner courtyard of the Archevêché near the cathedral (https://festival-aix.com/). Very close to Aix at about 20-30 minutes, you can enjoy the international piano at the festival de la Roque d'Anthéron (https://www.festival-piano.com/) that starts mid-July until mid-August. First week-end of July, this is the Rencontres Economiques d'Aix (https://www.lesrencontreseconomiques.fr/), an economic forum that gathers all key political & business leaders. So Aix becomes extremely busy during this period.

Further from Aix, you have the festival d'Avignon with open-air theater (https://festival-avignon.com), festival dedicated to photography will be in Arles between July & August (https://www.rencontres-arles.com/) and the end of Orange's Chorégies.

Hiking in front of the Baux-de-Provence in Autumn

French holiday-makers are gone and university students are back to school, making a lot of cheerful noise and presence in the town center. Autumn is known to be one of the best time to visit and you still have a lot of international tourists.

Weather is extremely mild, like summer but without the excessive heat and it is still possible to go into the water until late in the Autumn (even early November) : this is an ideal time for visiting historical cities or natural sites as the warm light is exceptional. It is also the perfect season to cook all the fresh fruits and vegetables you will find in the local markets.

For cultural activities, don't miss the musée Granet (including the fondation Jean Planque just the other side of the road), fondation Vasarely (https://www.fondationvasarely.org/) and exhibitions at Hôtel de Caumont. Marseille is within reach of regional train with musée des Beaux-Arts and many other museums such as the new Grotte Cosquer (https://www.grotte-cosquer.com/) and Mucem. Avignon has many museum besides the Palais des Papes such as musée du Petit Palais dedicated to medieval Italian painting (collections belong to the Louvre museum), musée Calvet for fine arts (https://www.musee-calvet.org/), musée Angladon (https://angladon.com/) and collection Lambert for modern art and exhibitions (https://collectionlambert.com/). In Arles, you will have the fondation LUMA (https://www.luma.org/) dedicated to modern art in a Frank Gehry tower but also the archeological museum (https://www.arlesantique.fr/) and the musée Réattu for Fine Arts. 

Further, Nîmes will welcome you with the archeological museum (https://museedelaromanite.fr/) and the fine arts museum and you should absolutely visit the musée Fabre (https://www.museefabre.fr/) in Montpellier, probably the best fine arts museum in the south of France.

Fondation Vasarely in Aix

Hôtel de Caumont & musée Granet in Aix

Fondation LUMA in Arles

& Carrière des Lumières in Baux-de-Provence

Winter atmosphere & light in Aix-en-Provence

Christmas season in Aix is very special and this is shopping time in November & December with a Christmas market on the Cours Mirabeau. Provencal Christmas is specific because of its typical crèche decoration (terracotta nativity scenes) and its traditional Christmas dinner with 13 deserts including nougats and the famous calissons. Aix-en-Provence city center is bustling with life, lights and decorations.

Of course, it can be cold with re-comforting sunshine but it is a great time to visit museums and why not indulge in a spa at Sextius Roman baths (Aquabella hôtel) as Aix-en-Provence was a spa city already at roman times. Shopping can also be done in Marseille which is a far bigger city but easily accessible and this is a great time to book a restaurant by the sea on the Marseille corniche or the Côte Bleue (ex : La Calanque Bleue in Sausset-les-Pins or La Pergola in Niolon).