26 km from Marseille, a 30-minute drive from the Mediterranean and 2 hrs 40 from Paris by TGV, the historic capital of Provence looks towards the future without denying any of its illustrious past. Founded by the Romans in 122 B.C., it hosted the first political bodies in the Middle Ages. Since the 1920’s, its population has grown steadily. The authorities are thus rethinking town planning, designing main roads, tourist facilities and new neighbourhoods.

Aix lies 15 km west of the Sainte-Victoire mountain, in a kind of basin formed by the Arc and Torse rivers. Woodland covers one-third of its extensive territory. The home of Cézanne and Zola now accommodates 142,550 inhabitants, 41,000 students enrolled in Humanities, Law, Economics, Political Science, Arts and Crafts or the Fine Arts, and no less than 140 listed monuments, a heritage that places the city second only to Paris. Dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries, buildings in the centre are worthy complements to the loveliness of Provence. Yet Aix never rests on the laurels of its rich past. In constant evolution, it is forever undertaking new experiments. As evidenced by the TGV station, the ITER project (Cadarache) and the technology parks of Rousset and L’Arbois.
Sylvie Allary of Cyrano Immobilier focusses primarily on up-market apartments, private mansions in the historic heart of town or houses of charm in close proximity. Mazarin, known for its limited number of shops, its lack of bars and restaurants, its museums and art-galleries, remains the most sought-after neighbourhood among fans of tranquillity and lovely old stone. They encounter, however, a severe shortage of offerings. The northern side of the Cours Mirabeau has nothing to envy of Mazarin since the successful rehabilitation of the Rue du Maréchal Joffre and Rue de l’Opéra. The estate-agent points to the recent sale of a furnished 1-bed-room apartment of 60 m2 at 4,800 €/m2. The Palais de Justice is not lacking in charm either. A Parisian couple just treated themselves to an apartment of 100 m2, also furnished, for 650,000 €. Unfurnished, the property would have fetched 4,500-5,000 €/m2. For Sylvie Allary, the year 2009 only really got going in July, with turnover chalked up over the summer thanks to wealthy buyers from outside the region wanting to acquire a pied-à-terre in Aix. Boosted by locals looking for main homes, foreigners, investors in rented properties and students, the apartment sector is doing well despite the crisis. “With one notable change in client behaviour,” she warns. “The multi-service residences of Sextius-Mirabeau and the trend for shared rentals among the young are leading to a rejection of small apartments which are sometimes rather run down. Mediocre appointments are no longer acceptable.” Houses within walking distance certainly have their fans. A 5-minute walk from the Cours Mirabeau, La Violette, also close to the ring-road, proposes early 20th-C.houses from the 1930’s and 1940’s, totalling 160-200 m2 with gardens of 400-600 m2. In late 2008, an example of this kind with living space of 160 m2 in excellent condition and grounds of 650 m2 found a taker at 1.2 million euros. Slightly off-centre, Brunet compensates by offering generous grounds. This estate-agent can in fact offer a ravishing old building of 127 m2, renovated throughout, an independent studio of 25 m2 and a workshop of the same size in grounds of 1,200 m2, for 670,000 €.
Like his colleague, Dominique Millant of Barnes International focusses on the luxury sector. He mentions an apartment of 193 m2 on Rue de l’Opera, completely restructured less than five years ago, quiet, facing south and overlooking the residence’s gardens, offered for sale at 1,166,000 €, and another top-floor example of 80 m2, restored, opening out to two terraces, the rooftops, cathedral and Sainte-Victoire, with no noise despite an address in the pedestrian zone, for under 663,900 €. The problem for this estate-agent - and it’s a constant factor in Aix - derives more from the lack of properties than a search for potential buyers. “In the luxury sector, there are three types of clients : those from the Parisian region looking for second homes, senior citizens who have just sold a “bastide” on the outskirts, and newly-arrived employees of international companies,” explains Dominique Millant. For him, the impression of a turnaround seems to be confirmed.
“Le Clos Cangina, to the south towards the Parc Jourdan, just as close to the Cours Mirabeau and more practical from the point of view of access roads, can be compared with La Violette. A detached house of 160 m2 in grounds of 700 m2 benefitting from a pool costs 1,070,000 €,” says Guillaume Rey of Actuel Immobilier. If one accepts to travel a few hundred yards more, La Torse offers a countrified environment, shops, amenities, good schools and mixed accommodation, from simple villas to genuine estates via high-class residences with swimming pools and parking facilities included. People in their forties, willing to pay 4,600-4,700 €/m2, are fans of this area, especially as public transport services are perfectly adequate. Despite high prices, 4,000-8,000 €/m2 in the centre, 4,600 e/m2 to the east, 3,000 €/m2 to the west and south, no-one ever talked about a collapse in these neighbourhoods during the recent crisis, but rather a correction and a more reasonable approach. The readjustment of 10-15 % concerns the first and second rings, which had benefitted from an artificial boom during the euphoric years.