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FIND handcrafted treats, sumptuous scents and cool art in this French gem, says writer Janice Hopper.

Aix is a destination where creativity, culture and indulgence blend beautifully at every turn.

COUNT THE FOUNTAINS

Derived from the Latin word for “water”, Aix is known as the city of a thousand fountains.

Check out the Rotunda Fountain decorated with lions, dolphins and swans, then soak in the spring waters at Thermes Sextius spa, with its saunas, hammams, experience showers and whirlpool.

Sessions cost from £42 (Thermes-sextius.com).

Feeling peckish? Try local delicacy calissons – iced marzipan treats with a citrus tang.

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You’ll find the best at Léonard Parli (Leonard-parli.com) and Le Roy René (Calisson.com), where a 75g box costs £8.

Meanwhile, in the Italian Quarter, Hat’s boulangerie serves up truffle and ham focaccia for £6 (Hatsboulangerie.com).

Finish at Maison Weibel’s elegant tea room and order a sticky Lightning Bolt chocolate choux pastry, £3.50 (Maisonweibel.com).

SMELL THE LAVENDER

Tour the pretty fields of lavender from June to August – 1.5-hour tours cost £9, (Getyourguide.com).

Or, if you’re visiting out of season, buy beautiful scented drawer sachets, £2, at Maison De La Lavande on Rue Gaston de Saporta, which also sells soaps and lavender-inspired artworks.

Aix’s flower market brightens up Town Hall Square every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, while Fragonard’s locally made perfume, £42 for 50ml, at its boutique on Rue du Maréchal Foch is an absolute winner (Fragonard.com).

SWOT UP ON ART

The city was home to impressionist artist Paul Cézanne, and you can tour his tranquil studio for £8.50 (Cezanne2025.com).

Then embark on a Cézanne walking trail by following the gold “C” on pavements, starting at his statue on Place De La Rotonde.

The Musée Granet is another hot house of art. Expect Monet, Van Gogh, Picasso and more.

Tickets cost £6, but entry is free on the first Sunday of the month (Museegranet-aixen provence.fr).

Or visit the majestic Château La Coste for a two-hour walking tour, £22, to spy works by Damien Hirst, Yoko Ono and Bob Dylan, plus Louise Bourgeois’ iconic Crouching Spider.

Finish your day dining on a succulent chicken platter with cumin-roasted carrots, roast potatoes and parsley croutons at La Rôtisserie, £27 per person, while sipping its Château Rosé, £9 per glass (Chateau- la-coste.com).

HIT THE MARKET

You can’t visit Aix without strolling down the tree-lined Cours Mirabeau, plus on Saturdays, it’s buzzing with affordable fashion stalls.

Rue Chabrier is home to quirky boutiques, including Kitch for chic gilets (Kitchshopaix.fr) and Fanfreluche for knitwear (Fanfrelucheconcept.fr).

Later, toast your finds at the bustling bars on Place des Cardeurs.

Grab a house vino, £4, and baked camembert, £12.50, at relaxed Pompette and take a pew on its terrace – a perfect sun spot (@Pompette_aix).

SPLASH OUT

The recently refurbished rooms at Grand Hôtel Roi René have a dreamy cream, olive and terracotta palette.

Winston Churchill stayed here in 1948 while on a painting holiday, and as well as it being super-central, there’s also a heated courtyard pool.

Hit the L’Intemporel bar for a Le Roi René cocktail, £15 – a punchy Martini Riserva Ambrato with Bénédictine.

Come breakfast, feast on coconut chia with sunflower seeds and berry compote and chocolate-topped calissons.

Double rooms cost from £193 B&B (All.accor.com).