Les Baux or Aix in Provence?

[thestokes]

We will be visiting the port of Marseille in October 2013. I'm trying to decide on an excursion into Provence. Has anybody been to either Les Baux or Aix? Which is better if you want to get the Provence experience, do some shopping and stop at a cafe? Or, is there somewhere else we should consider? We were going to take the excursion through and both of these cost around $50-60 per person. Thanks for any help.

[Hlitner]

Aix en Provence is a mid-size city with much to offer a cruiser. And its relatively easy (and cheap) to get there on your own via either train or bus from Marseille. Les Baux, if a small hilltop village quite a distance from Marseille. We once spent 2 weeks in an apartment in nearby St Remy and went to Les Baux a couple of times a week. It is a charming (and touristy) place in a pretty remote location (not accessible by train and very rarely by a public bus). Les Baux does not make a lot of sense as the sole destination of a tour and should best be coupled with another place such as Avignon, St Remy, etc.

 

Since Aix is quite a bit larger then Les Baux....it does offer more to see. And Aix has the picturesque Cours Mirabeau where sitting in one of the cafes is a joy.

Hank

[thestokes]

Thanks for the input, Hank. The other option that is available is Le Castellet and Bandol. Are you familiar with those locations?

[cberge]

I would go to Les Baux in a heartbeat...I love that place,but Hank is right...go to Aix and then come back to area on a land trip and visit them all.

[Hlitner]

Thanks for the input, Hank. The other option that is available is Le Castellet and Bandol. Are you familiar with those locations?

 

Le Castellet is a cute very old village and Bandol is not as special but in the heart of the regional wine growing area. Some might disagree, but we would think that a tour to these two places should be one of those secondary kind of things for folks that have already seen most of the top tourist areas (i.e. Aix en Provence, Les Baux, Avignon, etc).

 

DW and I stopped in those villages one day while we were simply driving around the region looking for new places. We were kind of surprised to see them on some cruise line tour itineraries. As to the best places for a first visit to the region we would have to go with Aix en Provence (the most convenient from Marseille), Les Baux, Avignon, and Pont du Gard (a bit far from Marseille). Actually, Pont du Gard and Arles or Avignon work for a one-day tour (or on your own trip with a rental car). DW and I first visited this region on a cruise (many years ago) and quickly fell in love with Provence. After several lengthy land trips we have never tired of the region.

 

I should add that our last visit to Arles (about 2 years ago) caused us lots of concerns about what is happening to this community. There has apparently been a big influx of strict Muslims (have no clue as to which country these folks come from ) and they do not appear to be assimilating into the French culture. As a result, you can go to their weekly market (a popular activity in France and a great way to learn about the regional culture) and it has become more of a Muslim market then a French market. Many of the women are "covered" and we felt more like we were in a Middle East country then in France. The irony is that while the French were demonstrating and making a big deal about keeping their culture from being "Americanized" it appears they are losing the battle to the Middle Eastern and African Muslims.

 

 

 

Hank

[thestokes]

That would be very sad if France loses it special culture. Thanks for all the detailed info. We are very excited to visit Provence!