Artisanal shops in Aix-en-Provence

By Alixe LAY , Published: 1 February 2023, 06:20

Aix-en-Provence is a lovely little city in the Provence region, famed for its association with Paul Cezanne, who spent his whole life there. I absolutely loved the streets of Aix-en-Provence, so charming with fountains waiting around every turn and corner. With the abundance of locally made products in the Provence region, Aix-en-Provence is also a great place to shop for artisanal goods.

Calisson Le Roy René

While in Aix-en-Provence, I was introduced to Calisson, a traditional French candy. It is made from a paste of candied fruit and ground almonds topped with a thin layer of royal icing. Most of the world supply of calissons is made in the Provence region, with Le Roy René being one of the official manufacturers. Today, Le Roy René still make calissons by hand using the original recipe since its creation, with Mediterranean and Provencal almonds.

Calisson Le Roy René

Grand Marché

For a few days of the week, Cours Mirabeau, the main street of Aix-en-Provence is closed for the market day, where the locals gather to buy fresh produce, old books and clothing items from artisans. As there are many lavender fields in the Provence region, pouches of fresh lavender or essential oil could be easily found in the market. They are nearly all created by the independent artisans. I also found some delicious and organic fruit and vegetables produced by the local farmers. Experiencing the farmers’ market gave me a good glimpse of the Provencal lifestyle.

Artisanal Clothes

If you are interested in supporting local creators, there are also many textile and fashion designers in Aix-en-Provence. Every spring, the craftsmen come together during the European Days of Craft festival to allow the public to visit their studios and see them demonstrate their crafts.

Plan your trip in Aix-en-Provence (External link)

By Alixe LAY

Alixe is a lifestyle and travel photographer based in London. When traveling, she likes to wander around the streets and capture beautiful moments of where and how the locals live. Always on the look out for pretty facades, characterful shops and restaurants, Alixe’s take on architecture is dark, moody and atmospheric, capitalising on soft light and shadow play.

https://www.alixelay.com/

Aix-en-Provence

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