🇫🇷 Aix-en-Provence 4K: Pavillon Noir, Old Town Streets & Église Saint-Jean-de-Malte

Take a scenic 4K walking tour through Aix-en-Provence, the cultural gem and historic capital of Provence. This journey highlights the striking architectural contrast of the city: starting from the cutting-edge modern cultural hub around Esplanade Mozart, passing through the lively Les Allées Provençales shopping district, and diving deep into the atmospheric cobblestone streets of the historic Old Town, ending at the world-famous Place d’Albertas.

𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐞 & 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐬
— 𝐄𝐬𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐳𝐚𝐫𝐭: The contemporary cultural forum of Aix-en-Provence, framed by sleek architecture, mirrored planter boxes, and elegant olive trees.
— 𝐋𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐧 𝐍𝐨𝐢𝐫: Home to the National Choreographic Centre and Angelin Preljocaj’s ballet company. Designed by architect Rudy Ricciotti, this structural masterpiece features a dramatic black ultra-high-performance concrete exoskeleton.
— 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐮𝐬 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐡𝐚𝐮𝐝: The regional music conservatory designed by celebrated Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, featuring an origami-inspired folded aluminium facade.
— 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐡𝐞́𝐚̂𝐭𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞: Designed by Vittorio Gregotti and Paolo Colombo, clad in warm Provence sandstone that echoes the shades of Montagne Sainte-Victoire.
— 𝐋𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐞́𝐞𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐜̧𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬 & 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜̧𝐨𝐢𝐬 𝐕𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐧: A bustling pedestrian quarter with contemporary open-air shopping, vibrant café terraces, and modern urban fountains.
— 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐝𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐦𝐞 & 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐝𝐮 𝐆𝐞́𝐧𝐞́𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐝𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐞: The grand gateway to Aix near the iconic Fontaine de la Rotonde, surrounded by classic plane trees.
— 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐬 & 𝐑𝐮𝐞 𝐄𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐭: The vibrant heart of the Old Town, lined with 17th-century townhouses, bakeries, artisan boutiques, and sunny dining terraces.
— 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐝’𝐀𝐥𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐬: One of France’s most picturesque 18th-century squares, famous for its curved Baroque facades, delicate wrought-iron balconies, and ornate stone fountain.

𝐄́𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐮 𝐒𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭-𝐄𝐬𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐭 (𝐄́𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐬)
Rising gracefully on Place des Augustins along Rue Espariat, this historic 18th-century church is steeped in centuries of Provencal heritage. Built on the site of the former 12th-century Augustinian convent, its warm ochre stone facade showcases classical pilasters, Corinthian capitals, and a stained-glass window set beneath a grand pediment. Inside, visitors discover a serene nave flanked by wooden pews, baroque side chapels, an intricately carved elevated wooden pulpit, and a grand marble altar illuminated by historic crystal chandeliers. Just above, the iconic octagonal bell tower features an ancient sun dial clock and an airy wrought-iron campanile designed to withstand the legendary Provençal mistral winds.

𝐒𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐩𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 & 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐦
— 𝐀𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥: Located on Place François Villon near the Tourist Office, this powerful bronze sculpture honours the victims of 1915, depicting a winged figure kneeling with arms outstretched toward the sky.
— 𝐅𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐬: A landmark 17th-century fountain on Place des Augustins, surmounted by a stone column, Corinthian capital, and a gleaming gilded eight-pointed star.
— 𝐅𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐝’𝐀𝐥𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐬: The iconic 18th-century stone fountain gracing the cobblestone courtyard of Hôtel d’Albertas, encircled by wrought-iron scrollwork and gentle water cascades.

𝐂𝐚𝐟𝐞́𝐬, 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐬 & 𝐄𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝
— 𝐋𝐚 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐞: Retro food trailer at Esplanade Mozart serving artisan fresh homemade pasta.
— 𝐓𝐚𝐫𝐚 (𝐋𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐞́𝐞𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐜̧𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬): High-street fashion boutique under glass-canopied pedestrian walkways.
— 𝐋𝐞 𝐅𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 (𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐞 𝐱 𝐋𝐞 𝐅𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥): Popular brasserie on Place de la Rotonde featuring yellow barrel seating and summer lights.
— 𝐁𝐨𝐜𝐜𝐚 𝐏𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐚: Gourmet artisanal gelato shop framed by potted citrus trees on Place de la Rotonde.
— 𝐏𝐢𝐳𝐳𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐳 𝐉𝐨: Legendary local pizzeria welcoming guests on Rue Espariat since 1975.
— 𝐌𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝟏𝟐𝟑: Parisian fashion boutique with views reflecting historic old-town facades.
— 𝐁𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞 𝐏𝐀𝐔𝐋: Traditional bakery shopfront housed inside a historic stone building.
— 𝐋’𝐀𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬: Charming specialty bakery famous for freshly baked traditional French madeleines. — 𝐁𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐞 (𝐋𝐞𝐬 𝐁𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐝’𝐀𝐢𝐱): Authentic sweet shop with rustic Provencal wood carts.
— 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞 𝐋𝐞́𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢: Historic confectionery founded in 1874, home of the world-famous Calissons d’Aix.

00:00 – Intro
00:45 – Place Général de Gaulle
01:08 – Gare Routière d’Aix-en-Provence
01:21 – Fontaine de la Rotonde
01:40 – Statue de Paul Cézanne
02:00 – 10 Boulevard Victor Coq
02:13 – Bibliothèque Méjanes – Allumettes
03:00 – Le Pavillon Noir (Centre Chorégraphique National / Ballet Preljocaj)
03:11 – Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional Darius Milhaud
03:27 – Grand Théâtre de Provence
04:34 – Mémorial du Génocide Arménien
05:11 – Chouffe x Le Festival
05:44 – Bocca Piena
06:04 – Place des Augustins
06:22 – Rue Espariat
07:30 – Église du Saint-Esprit
08:48 – Boulangerie PAUL
09:14 – L’Atelier des Madeleines
10:37 – Place d’Albertas