Why is Aix-en-Provence attractive in 2025?
The New York Times has just published its annual ranking of destinations to visit in 2025, the now famous “52 places to go in…”. The newspaper’s selection method is based on proposals from a network of journalists and travel experts. The selection criteria include cultural news, innovations in sustainable tourism and the capacity of destinations to reinvent themselves. This ranking influences global tourism trends, as evidenced by the increase in attendance at the highlighted sites.
This 2025 selection, awaited every year by travelers around the world, places Aix-en-Provence in seventh position in the world. The city thus joins the circle of the most popular destinations, alongside British Hampshire in first place, or the Galapagos Islands and New York in the Top 10.
The presence of a French city in this ranking is not a first: last year, Normandy occupied first place, marking the growing interest of international travelers in French destinations.
Why is Aix-en-Provence attractive in 2025?
The year 2025 marks a turning point for Aix-en-Provence with an exceptional cultural program around Paul Cezanne. The Granet museum presents, from June 28 to October 12, the most important retrospective ever devoted to the painter. This exhibition brings together works from all over the world, some presented for the first time in France.
The reopening of the bastide of Jas de Bouffan constitutes another highlight. After four years of work, this Cézanne family home reveals its secrets. The restorers have worked meticulously to restore the atmosphere in which the painter lived and created. Visitors discover the living rooms, the workshop and the park which nourished his inspiration.
THE Bibémus quarries and the Lauves workshop complete this journey in the footsteps of the artist. These sites, where Cézanne painted many of his most famous paintings, allow us to understand his relationship with the Provençal landscape and the Sainte-Victoire mountain.
A city where art (of living) and history combine
The historic center of Aix-en-Provence retains the elegance of the Grand Siècle. THE Mirabeau courselined with mansions and century-old plane trees, crosses the city from east to west. The ocher facades and wrought iron balconies bear witness to the city’s architectural golden age.
-The museums of Aix are not limited to Cézanne. THE Granet museum presents a remarkable permanent collection, from French primitives to modern art. The Vasarely Foundation, in a building with geometric shapes, exhibits the works of the master of optical art. Contemporary art galleries enliven the streets of the Mazarin district.
The fountains of Aix, forty in number, punctuate the squares and streets. The oldest, the Quatre-Dauphins fountain, dates from the 17th century. Place d’Albertas, the baroque fountain dialogues with the sculpted facades of the private mansions.
The Aix gastronomy appreciated in markets and restaurants. The fruit and vegetable market on Place Richelme enlivens the city center every morning. Local producers offer their seasonal vegetables, aromatic herbs and olive oils. Calissons, confectionery made from almonds and candied melon, are the best-known local specialty.
When and how to enjoy Aix-en-Provence
The mild Mediterranean climate of Aix-en-Provence allows you to discover the city in all seasons. Residents benefit from nearly 300 days of sunshine per year, which punctuates social life around the squares and terraces. In summer, the plane trees of Cours Mirabeau protect walkers from the heat.
The highlights of 2025 are organized around cultural programming. THE Lyrical art festivalin July, transforms the city into the capital of opera. The concerts take place in the courtyard of the archbishopric and the theater of the Archbishopric, historic settings with remarkable acoustics.
The international recognition of Aix-en-Provence by the New York Times validates the city’s efforts to promote its heritage. This distinction recalls the ranking of Normandy in 2024 and that of Marseille in 2019, showing the growing appeal of French destinations. The 2025 cultural program, centered on Cézanne, will offer a unique opportunity to discover the city from a new angle and the presence of Aix-en-Provence in this ranking is part of a New York Times tradition of highlighting European cultural cities. In 2023, the American newspaper distinguished London for the opening of new museums, and in 2022, Vienna for its ecological commitment. The 2025 selection confirms Aix-en-Provence’s ability to combine historical heritage and contemporary creation.
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