755km (469 miles) S of Paris; 80km (50 miles) SE of Avignon; 32km (20 miles) N of Marseille; 175km (109 miles) W of Nice

Beautiful, fountain-filled Aix-en-Provence invites you to step back in time. Vestiges of the Roman city are still visible at the Thermes Sextius spa, while Gothic cloisters can be admired at the Cathédrale St-Sauveur. The Mazarin quarter's grid layout conceals sumptuous neoclassical houses whose graceful facades have long inspired writers and artists; it's a living tableau as colorful as any painting. Aix's university suffuses the city with intellectual energy -- students soak up the sun amid bustling Provençal markets and tree-shaded terraces.

Things to Do
Stroll cours Mirabeau, where fountains ripple and waiters waltz between the tables where Emile Zola and Paul Cézanne once sat. Or lose yourself amid the 18th-century mansions of the Mazarin quarter, where muscular atlantes (statues of Greek gods) support intricate, wrought-iron balconies. At his last workshop, Atelier de Cézanne, the artist's coat still hangs on the wall.

Nightlife & Entertainment
Sophistication is the name of the game in Aix, where a highbrow crowd flocks to the Grand Théâtre de Provence for top-quality classical music performances. On weekends, however, beer and cocktails rule for Aix's large student population, who colonize bars along rue de la Verrerie. This narrow, cobblestoned street is also a jazz hot spot. At Le Scat Club, DJs and live bands entertain into the wee hours.

Restaurants & Dining
Sun-ripened tomatoes, olives, peppers, almonds, and herbs fresh from the surrounding Provençal hillsides are signature ingredients in Aixoise cuisine. Cours Mirabeau has its fair share of Belle Époque brasseries. On a balmy evening, head to place des Cardeurs for a laid-back meal on a restaurant terrace. Whatever you eat, save room for calisson d'Aix -- the city's tear-shaped almond cake, supposedly invented in 1473 by Good King René to win the affection of his inexperienced wife.

Active Pursuits
The Montagne Ste-Victoire, Aix's iconic limestone backdrop, cries out to be explored. Hike along its stony paths to the rhythm of cicadas, past sun-baked olive groves and emerald cypress trees. The mountain inspired more than 60 of Cézanne's works, and its contrasting colors make you feel as though you're roaming through an oil painting. When you can walk no more, soak at Thermes Sextius, a natural spa in Aix's Centre Ville, which has been soothing tired muscles since the Roman days.