10 Best Shopping in Aix-en-Provence, Provence

Aix's most famous purveyor of calissons offers an assortment of the delicate almond pastries in gourmet flavors and enticing colors along with the white-frosted classic. The Rue Gaston de Saporta location is the flagship, but its wonderful museum just outside the city center ( 5380 Rte. d’Avignon) delves into the history and making of this sweet and is well worth a visit. The shop also sells fruit syrups, biscuits, cakes, nougats, and a variety of other beautifully packaged candies that are perfect for gifts.

This cozy bookshop near Cours Mirabeau is not only a great place to buy and read English-language books, but also to meet other English speakers.

The French chain Catimini offers an imaginative, jazzy stock of kids' sweaters, jackets, and dresses.

Particularly noteworthy on the fashion front is Gago, which sells stylish designer wear for women including Céline, Balanciaga, and Comme des Garçons.

Contemporary fashions with an emphasis on classic French tailoring, Gérard Darel is known for chic day-to-evening dresses and sleek trench coats. It sells accessories, too.

Near the train station, Leonard Parli offers a lovely selection of calissons.

The most picturesque shop specializing in calissons is the venerable bakery Béchard, founded in 1870.

This Aix institution since 1954 is chock-full of sweets that look good enough to immortalize in a still life, let alone eat. Its version of the iconic Provençal calisson is hands down the best around.

Aix's most celebrated santon (miniature statue) maker was established in 1936.