Construction in Aix-en-Provence

I’ll be there next week and let you know

thank you. have a great trip.

Was there last fall and although construction in front of Palais de Justice was obvious, it did not then and probably wouldn't in June, impede your enjoyment very much at all.
Bon chance Kathy!
I am done. The end.

We visited Aix in September. The area around the huge fountain was under construction, but the rest of the city was enjoyable. I would suggest NOT visiting on a market day. The market is so huge that it makes it difficult to see the lovely square or get a good perspective on the buildings. We followed the walk in the Rick Steve's book and found it a useful starting point for exploring.

You might enjoy reading some of M.L. Longworth's mysteries which are set in Aix.

Thanks for the feedback. It sounds like it might be worth the trip with minimal disruption due to construction. Jeffersonclarkmail, I look forward to your most recent update when you return from your trip. Bon voyage!

Drove thru Aix on the way from Avignon to Cassis. We didn’t see any construction to speak of. Just narrow streets roundabouts and one way streets. We didn’t see anything worth stopping for Looked like a college town. Maybe we missed the good stuff but we really didn’t get what the big attraction is.

Thanks so much for your feedback! I really appreciate it. Aix is a « maybe «  for us. The other « maybe » is Cassis. How long was the drive from Avignon? We will be staying in St Remy and I would love to visit Cassis and the Calanques but I am not sure it is worth the drive for a day trip. From my research it looks like it is about 90 minutes. I am also intriqued by the routes des cretes (scenic drive). Did you do that?

We checked out of our hotel medevial in Avignon around 11. Did a short drive to Arles ate junk in the car. Wandered around easily because we were able to park in public lot just across from cemetery by old town. Country side driving and some highway south east, detoured through Aix , pretty but really just more of what we had already seen. Got into Cassis around checking time at a great air bnb about 50 ft from harbor, got a parking spot right there at the public beach. Auriele is the owners name at the Airbnb I would highly recommend it. She has a free parking pass in a lot, kitchen, sleeps 8. Third floor. Boat ride to calanques because it was so windy, and the scenic drive up on the cliffs was closed because of it. Hiked to calanques. Cassis was fun we had two nights there. Looks like it would be real crowded in season. Don’t order fish soup at le mistral restaurant, wort thing I ever tried to eat, like a warm cat food smoothie. Aix was pretty big and we were also staying 2 nights in Grenoble so we skipped more walking aimlessly around. Have fun

Was going to ask the very same thing about whats up in AIX and all the construction. Google Street View, paints a very ugly picture of Fountain de Rotonde, Place Verdun, Gare D' Aix Train Station, Gare Routiere Bus Station, Ave des Belges, etc. We will be there Sep 17th-21st, 2019.

The wonders of Aix lie beyond where cars can access. There is a ring of boulevards (Roi René, Carnot, Briand...) : you should explore what's inside. Good museums too, especially Hotel de Caumont (check what's on there).

Caumont allez vous, oui?
I am done. The end.

Full disclosure, I love Aix en Provence and have spent a lot of time there..

The focus of the public works projects is to reduce traffic congestion in the town center and to increase pedestrian zones. To this end, they are building a crosstown dedicated express bus route “ L’Aixpress” linking residential, university and commercial areas.

The famous Rotonde Fountain will also become accessible for pedestrians, rather than isolated in a traffic circle.

Do park and venture into the pedestrian area to see the Museums, architecture, shady squares. Go to the daily fruit and veg market at Place Richelme if the regional market is too much. Try to take in a music performance at the Grand Théâtre de Provence. Have a pizza at Chez Jo and a drink on the Cours Mirabeau. Walk in Cézannes footsteps.

Wow - there was a ton of construction going on LAST YEAR when we were there in July! And I thought some of our road projects took forever. ;)

They got it all done as of September 21, 2019. The 7 bus is now the A Line which runs as early as to get to the first Flix bus to Nimes. We walked it anyway, to Kypton Parking.

The excavation in front of Palace of Justice is all done. They found Roman Ruins which are now visible through glass panels set in the plaza out front. It looked like all the other construction projects were also finished as of September 21st, 2019.

Aix is the only place I didn't link in our 20 days trip. I would avoid Aix.