South France Apartment - Studio in Aix-en-provence, Provence (PR-917)

This large studio apartment of approximately 30 sqm (323 sq ft) is located on the second French floor (third American floor) of a walk-up (no elevator) townhouse mansion with a private garden dating from the 18th century. You'll be sure to have an authentic experience here in this fantastic home, owned by the same family for six generations in beautiful Aix en Provence, in the South of France.

Despite being only 50 m (165 ft) from the historic center of Aix, you'll have plenty of privacy, peace and quiet in this exceptional home, which faces the private backyard. It's easy to get to all the shops, restaurants, groceries, cafés, schools and colleges.

The main room of the studio is loosely divided into a dining area, a living space and a sleeping space. A small sofa faces the window onto the garden and a television on top of a chest of drawers. Behind it is a dining table with four chairs and a cabinet with cutlery and dishes, giving you a place to sit and eat. Make yourself comfortable on either the two beds: one full (140 cm) bed and one single (90 cm) in the corner, on opposite sides of the room.

The open kitchen is fully equipped with everything you'll need to prepare and eat your meals at home, including a full-sized refrigerator, stainless steel sink, built-in cabinet storage space, electric burners, cofeemaker and microwave. There is also a window at the far end of the kitchen to let in light and the fresh Provençal air.

If you have a car, there is a paying parking lot (Parking Pasteur) one block from the property, making it easy to park after driving into the city or coming back from a long day exploring the natural parks of Provence.

The apartment location is ideal if you want to balance the cosmopolitan buzz of Aix en Provence with your own needs for peace and privacy, letting you experience what it's like to live independently as a true native. Heading down to the open-market and picking up fresh produce, preparing your own meals and taking in the sun from the greenery of the private garden, you'll feel right at home in this vacation rental.

Aix en Provence is world-renowned as one of the cultural and historical capitals of Provence, one of France's most famous regions. Located inland from the Côte d'Azur that draws most tourists to Provence, Aix provides access to the foothills of the Alps in this scenic part of France. The town and its surrounding region has been home to many artists and writers throughout the years who drew inspiration from the charming town and its picturesque environs. There are many museums and other sights located nearby the apartment in the historic old town of Aix, such as:

• The Tapestry Museum (400 m / 4 blocks away)
• The Granet Museum of sculpture, paintings and archeology (850 m/15 blocks away)
• The Musee du Veil Aix (Old Aix Museum) just 840 m /10 minutes walking down the street.
• The Cours Mirabeau, the tree-lined promenade that follows the old city walls, dividing Aix into the northern historic area and the newer areas of development in the south
• Les Deux Garçons, dating from 1792 and a favorite hangout for Hemingway, Zola and Cézanne
• The Saint-Jean de Malte Cathedral, built in the 13th century and home to a recently restored organ
• The larger Aix Cathedral, built on the old Roman forum, mixing Gothic and Romanesque styles and boasting a 500-year-old dome, archbishop's palace and medieval baptistry

Plan your trip around one of the many festivals that take place in the city throughout the year, taking advantage of the warm mediterranean climate and the advanced facilities located in and around Aix. The city is located near the Marseille-Provence International Airport (26 km/16 mi away) and the TGV high speed train station is just 16 km (9.8 mi or 20 minutes driving) away. It is only 20 minutes from the city of Marseille, 40 minutes from Toulon and the Cote d’Azur, and 60 minutes from Avignon, making this the perfect home base for travelling around the region.