Back Roads of Provence: Part 4 – Forumula One Racing and Aix-en-Provence

Part 4 in the series, Backroads of Provence
By Diane Covington

Well, I said our next adventure was ‘just around the bend’ in Provence and that certainly turned out to be true. After leaving the Hotel Beauvallon in Sainte Maxime, we drove to the AGS Formula 1 racetrack to have a ‘once-in-a-lifetime experience’ of riding in a real race car.

There’s an option to spend the morning getting trained and then drive the racecar that afternoon or just get into a 2-seater behind a trained driver and go. We took that option. I must admit I was nervous, but how thrilling to go 120-150 mph in a racecar, whizzing around a track.

They’re friendly and very professional and it feels safe—as safe as it can feel at that speed! They outfit you with jumpsuits, helmets, shoes, gloves and earplugs (which were needed). Not to be missed for those with that urge for speed!

Then on to Aix-en-Provence, my favorite city in Provence. I’m prejudiced because I lived in Aix in 2000 for almost a year. But Aix is a city that can be rediscovered, no matter how many times you visit it. Everywhere you go, you hear the soft sound of water splashing in fountains—there are over 50 of them.

The Romans founded Aix over 2,000 years ago because of the abundance of springs and the healing properties of the water. Today, the Spa Thermes Sextius is built on the site of the original Roman baths. You can see the crumbling walls of the ancient buildings and the spring, which comes up from a depth of 80 meters at a temperature of 97 degrees, through a glass floor in the entry.

After we settled into our hotel, the Hôtel La Bastide du Cours, right on the Cours Mirabeau or main street, we headed to the spa. The French really know about spas. The water, full of minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and lithium, is said to relieve stress, fatigue and even cellulite. I’ve found the treatments to be really helpful in getting over jet lag.

After three ‘soins’, or treatments, a salt scrub, a mud wrap and a massage with essential oils under ‘affusion’ or warm showers, we were ready for a night of enjoying Aix. (For the spa, make reservations ahead. It is so popular with the locals, they get booked up.) Aix has over 160 manor houses dating from the 17th and 18th centuries, designed by architects from Italy, Paris and Flanders. Cobblestone streets wind into the central square where the Hotel de Ville, or Mayor’s office, is next to a 12th century clock tower. Take your pick of restaurants—there are so many good ones. We ate at Antoine Coté Cours, 19 Cours Mirabeau, which was filled with locals, always a good sign. Stay tuned for our next stop, the port of Marseille.

`Å bientôt—see you soon!