Villa Gallici is a luxury hotel in a Provençal bastide on the northern edge of Aix-en-Provence, a member of the Relais & Châteaux group. It is built around terraced gardens with cypress trees, clipped hedges, fountains and a swimming pool, laid out in an Italian-influenced style that gives the property a very different atmosphere from the town hotels around the Cours Mirabeau. The rooms and suites are decorated in rich fabrics and Provençal colours, with some opening onto terraces or garden views, and the hotel has a restaurant and a bar that make it a place to linger rather than just sleep. The old town is a pleasant walk away, so you get quiet gardens in the evening and the cafes and markets of Aix by day.
Location and getting around
The hotel is on a residential street above the centre, a walk of roughly ten to fifteen minutes to the Cours Mirabeau and the old town, mostly on the flat or downhill, and a short taxi ride at night. Rail and coach connections are on the other side of town, so a taxi or a short bus ride is the practical way to arrive with luggage. Drivers should ask the hotel about parking, which is generally easier here than in the old town.
Rooms and facilities
The hotel is small and the rooms are individually decorated, ranging from garden-facing rooms to larger suites with terraces. The gardens and pool are the main asset in the warmer months, though the pool is seasonal and may not be in use in November, so check before booking if it matters to you.
The restaurant and bar make dinner convenient on cool evenings, and breakfast is served on site and is usually charged separately from the room rate. Air conditioning and Wi-Fi are generally available, but confirm the details for the room category you want, along with any spa services, as opening times can change in the low season.
Who it suits
Couples, honeymooners and travellers who want a retreat with gardens as well as access to the city. It is less suited to travellers who want to step straight from the door into a lively square, or to those on a tight budget, since this is one of the more expensive places to stay in Aix. In November the gardens are quieter and the light is soft, rates are usually lower than in summer and the city centre is calm, with the Christmas market season starting toward the end of the month.
Aix is a good base for Arles, Les Baux and the Roman sites of the Alpilles, but a poor one for the Luberon villages, so choose your base with your plans in mind. Ask about garden-view rooms and any winter packages.
Why stay here
- ✓Provençal bastide
- ✓Terraced Italian-style gardens
- ✓Seasonal swimming pool
- ✓Restaurant
- ✓Bar
- ✓Relais & Châteaux member
- ✓Walk to the Cours Mirabeau
- ✓Wi-Fi and air conditioning
Good questions
How far is Villa Gallici from the old town of Aix?+
It is roughly ten to fifteen minutes on foot to the Cours Mirabeau and the old town, and a short taxi ride in the evening.
Is the pool open in November?+
The pool is seasonal and may not be in use in the cooler months, so check with the hotel before booking if swimming matters to you.
Is breakfast included?+
Breakfast is served on site and is usually charged separately, so compare the rate with and without it when you book.
