Lisa

I understand there is lots of road construction going on on the main avenue. Is it still worth a day trip?

Lisa

Is there anyone out there that can help me with my question? Anyone been there recently??

Monica

Hi Lisa,<BR><BR>I can't answer your question at this time as I'll be heading to Aix in just over a week. When are you planning to travel to France? I can let you know when I return (after the 24th of May). <BR><BR>PS: I would be interested in knowing too!

Jim

Lisa, most people on this board think that the "is it worth it" type questions are stupid and won't answer them. Perhaps if you asked for an update on the construction . . . <BR><BR>Still, you are asking for a report/judgment related to current conditions, which sorta limits the base of potential responders.

Lisa

Okay Jim, how's this:<BR><BR>I'm considering visiting Aix, but understand that there is a lot of construction going on. Is this construction blocking shops, restaurants, sights to see that it would not be worth the trip to Aix? If anyone that was there recently, can you tell me if you still had a great day visting Aix? Or did the construction area spoil your day? <BR><BR>

Lisa

Topping! Please help!!

Suzie

Without the construction mess, there are better places in Provence to visit than Aix.

MBrown

I was there a month and a half ago and the main street in the downtown area is STILL under construction. It has been under construction for 3 years. Apparently a new mayor was elected during the construction process. The new mayor felt that he needed to put his own touch on the renovations.<BR><BR>I have been going to Aix for about 7 years now and I have to say that i think the city has been in decline since they started work on the Cour Mirabeau. Graffitti is everywhere and the downtown area is generally dirty. It is still a charming place but it is not what it was 5 years ago.<BR><BR>The main blvd is supposedly to be completed in July. The main blvd construction does not really block access to sites and of course there are many sites to see in Aix besides the Cours Mirabeau. I think it is still worth going to but I would hesitate to make it my base for my visits of provence as I have in the past.

Uncle Sam

In a word...NO!<BR><BR>Even if there wasn't any construction.

Mandy

Are Avignon and Les Beaux better choices than Aix?

Paula

Lisa,<BR>We were just there and I have to say I was a bit disappointed. There is still much construction going on. However, we really liked the hotel where we stayed--Hotel le Pigonnett--very elegant with beautiful grounds and walking distance to the center of town. Good luck,<BR>Paula

PB

Mandy,<BR><BR>It would depend on the kind of atmosphere you're interested in. Avignon is another city, Les Baux is a very small perched village (with no hotels actually inside it) - although there are plenty in the vicinity.<BR><BR>PB

clairobscur

IMO, Avignon is much more interesting than Aix, due to its monuments. Concerning Les Beaux, as mentionned, it's a little village, so it's difficult to compare it with Aix.

jenny

Just returned from Provence 2 weeks ago. I really enjoyed Aix, again, was there 3 years ago. Same ole construction still going on. I spent 3 hours going the route according to the Green Guide. I would go in the morning b4 the food and flower markets close at 1pm. I didn't make it to Avignon this time, but my friends who did both preferred Aix.

Helen

We were there as part of our Provence 2 week road trip. We could have skipped Aix. The Frommer's pick hotel was a dive--my first case of bed bugs! Enjoyed walking around and the huge weekly market. Time would be better spend in Avignon and our favorite, Arles. Aix was the only place were we came close to being robbed. Good thing we always kept the backback zippers joining at the side, not the top.

Pearlz

We were there a few years ago and found it very much worth the day's stop.

Neil

Helen - could you tell me which hotel you stayed in Aix was a dive and had bed bugs? I will be there in a couple weeks and I want to make sure I'm not staying at that place.

Arlene

Hi! Just came back from Aix yesterday. Stayed at the Mercure Paul Cezanne and loved it. Two minute walk from everything. Yes, there is still construction. The Cours is not so beautiful. But, all the little side streets are great fun. We were there for 6 nights. Went to Cassis, which is wonderful. The other placed we visited would have been more accessible from the Avignon area. Favourite restaurant in Aix...Forum. Really delicious! Deux garcons was a disappointment and Brasserie Leopold was a disaster. Bistro Latin was very good, but Le Forum was better.<BR><BR>If anyone has questions, I will check on this board for a while.<BR><BR>I want to thank all those who helped me by answering all my neurotic questions before I left!!!!

Jennifer

Not quite a year ago, I took a train from Paris to Aix-en-Provence just for the day. If you are a Victor Vasarely fan, then the answer is an unabashedly YES!!!! Victor Vasarely is a god in the optical art world. Samples of his work are here:<BR><BR>http://www.smiley.cy.net/tsymeo/vasarely.htm<BR><BR>In Aix-en-Provence, there is the Victor Vasarely Fondation (without the "u"). It's "kind of" like a museum, since his official museum closed a couple of years ago. The outside of the building is so absolutely cool! <BR><BR>Outside of that, I'm afraid I know little of Aix-en-Provence! But I'd easily go to the VV Fondation again.<BR><BR>Jennifer<BR><BR>

Capo

I love Aix when I first visited it in May of 1994. The Cours Mirabeau, with its towering plane trees, fountains, and near-perfect symmetry (buildings on either side as high as the street is wide) remains one of the most gorgeous main streets I've seen in any French town. Frankly, I found Aix so wonderful that I can't imagine why some people don't care for it, but then, ah, we all have different tastes, don't we? <BR><BR>The second time I was there was in September of 1999, and that must have been just prior to this construction on the Cours Mirabeau starting. We only had a few hours to wander through the old town and Aix was just as nice as I'd remembered it. <BR><BR>Interesting to hear your take on Aix since construction began, MBrown. <BR><BR>