This almond-paste delicacy...
by SeaBreezeUSA
This almond-paste delicacy with its sugar icing is world renowned. The little boat-shaped pastries were given out at the Notre-Dame-de-la-Sed church in Aix-en-Provence every September 1st, celebrating a vow made to ward off the plague in 1630. The Archbishop of Aix chanted the Latin 'Venite ad Calicem' during the handout, and the Provencals translated this to 'Venes toui i calissoun', or 'Venez tous au Calisson' (Come, everybody, to Calisson). And the name stuck.
Hiking Boots
by rickyvilla81
It might be a goog idea to bring hiking boots, for you may decide to walk about the St.Victoire region, even if you don't go to the peak. What's more, Aix itself is cobbled mostly, and you may find them more comfortable on the cobblestones. Always bring spare shoes anyway, in case you tread in the dogpoo. Bring medical supplies from home. My friend Ben came here with a cough, and the pharmacist gave him a missile shaped suppository (the pills that you put up your bum). When he took it back and explained that he would prefer cough medecine to not being able to sit down for a few hours, she became all defensive, saying "but it's really good, I use it, what's wrong with it?" The suppository, it must be said, is a lot more popular in France than in other countries...
La musique
by rickyvilla81 about Compact club
Cds, DVDs, this is where I used to come ALL THE TIME. they have most of the new titles in by artists from around the world, not just France, and they have a great second hand section downstairs, where I picked up many a rare CD that I had hitherto not yet found even in London.
Outdoor Market
by jetimblin
Every morning on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday there is a market in the center of town. The market has all sorts of local products such as clothing, cheeses, antiques, spices and produce. I would recommend grabbing some of the excellent local food here and enjoying it while walking around the market.
Fontaine de Vaucluse is mega...
by kwanou
Fontaine de Vaucluse is mega touristic and there wasn't much to see apart from the place where the water comes up from underground in the mountain and the old paper mill. There's a friendly youthhostel at walking distance from the centre.