3 Stunning Beaches to Visit While in Aix en Provence

[Joe Hessert]

The south of France is synonymous with laid-back culture, picturesque scenery, and great wine. A trip to the elegant city of Aix-en-Provence is a great base for an adventure in the famous Provence region of France.

Walk through the historic University town of Aix and seeing great architecture while also enjoying visiting acres of lavender fields while sampling delightful classic French gastronomy. It has a southern European city charm and was once considered as the smartest city in France.

While the aforementioned features draw the majority of the crowd, the region also boasts a great stretch of coastline, the French Riviera.

Aix-en-Provence’s geographical position in the country makes it a crossroads for postcard worthy landscape, with beautiful beaches. Touring through the heartlands may leave you wanting to relax under the sun with the turquoise sea to cool down in. The Mediterranean heat mixed with great beaches make a great combination for you to relax and unwind.

Below are 3 great beaches to visit from Aix-en-Provence.

Sainte Croix Beach – Martigues

A 50-minute drive from Aix en Provence will take you to Sainte Croix beach near the town of Martigues. While the beach area may not be huge, it still attracts many tourists to enjoy its facilities. You can also explore the rocky perimeter and take a walk on the short cliff, or even jump into the sea from it. A great trip especially for the family with great accessibility and family friendly amenities.

After your trip to the beach, why not drop by the quiet scenic town of Martigues, dubbed as the Venice of Provence with its canals and charming bridges. Grab a bite by the promenade and take the chance to enjoy the views of the sea while people watching.

Grande Mer – Cassis

Cassis is one of Provence’s most beautiful towns with pastel colored houses and cafes, to a quaint harbor. While Cassis is known for its laid-back atmosphere and a slower pace, it offers a great beach full of action-packed activities perfect for adults and the family. While you will not see fine sand on the shore, the beach is rather made out of shingle that is cleaned daily to ensure a pleasant visit.

Enjoy hop on a kayak or windsurf across the sea if you seek a thrilling experience, or just lay back with the children on a pedal-boat soaking in the sun.

Catalans’ Beach – Marseille

The city of Marseille is a bustling metropolitan and is France’s shipping access into the Mediterranean. A city only second to Paris in terms of size and population, the city has access to great beaches. The Catalans’ beach is the most famous beach closest to the Old Town due to its location and its fine sand beach, but there are numerous, off-the-beaten path retreats along the coast, like this one:

But if you visit just one beach during your stay, make it Catalans’ beach, a welcome break from the busy city and is just a short walk away from the center.

You can jump on to play volleyball on the beach with its purpose made court, or just simply put down a towel and enjoy the sun with a view of the sea.