Visit the Calisson Museum near Aix-en-Provence

Want to spend a gourmet moment near Aix-en-Provence without breaking the bank? The Calisson Museum is there to satisfy your sweet tooth. This iconic confectionery is inseparable from Aix's history and heritage. At the end of the visit, you can linger at the Roy René factory to leave with your calissons!

What is the Calisson Museum?

The Calisson Museum focuses on the history of the eponymous confectionery, the calisson. It is recognizable by its diamond shape and its white color. It consists of candied melon fruit paste and crushed almonds. As the ingredients remain quite expensive and this sweet requires know-how, this makes it a rather expensive dish. The delight offered by this sweetness is worth its price!

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The etymology remains rather vague, however here are the hypotheses that come up most regularly:

• the cook of King René of Anjou would have offered confectionery to Queen Jeanne de Laval in the 15th century. Having greatly appreciated the sweets, she would have said that they were "real cuddles";
• on the religious side, it would be confections distributed during an epidemic of plague, calisson meaning "small chalice" in this case;
• some think that the confectionery would have been imported from Italy, because several texts from the 12th and 13th centuries would mention it.

The "calisson" label can only be obtained if the confectionery is made on the lands of Aix-en-Provence. Of course, respect for the recipe is essential to have the name.

A shop is present on the site: why not fall for the real Provençal calissons? At least, you know that they are quality dishes, especially since they are made directly in the workshop present before your eyes.

Why visit the Calisson Museum?

The calisson is one of the most famous French confectionery, so why not learn more about the subject? It's a perfect walk, accessible to both adults and children, that stimulates everyone's senses.

The free and unguided tour takes only 30 minutes: this will not bother the children and will hold their attention. There are also paid guided tours lasting about an hour. Reservation is mandatory and can be made by phone or Internet. Indeed, depending on the number of people, it may be necessary to come another day. At the end of a guided tour, a tasting awaits you: something to please your taste buds! For people with reduced mobility, the museum has a specially designed access for you.

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You will learn more about the making of this sweet, from the harvesting of almonds to the product you know. The almond tree is at the heart of the museum; its cycle, the way of harvesting will be explained to you. In the gardens of Roy René, you will find the almond trees responsible for the making of the calisson of the factory. Practical to know exactly where the ingredients of the products we consume come from. You can stroll through the gardens at your leisure: nice to enjoy the greenery and the light smell of almond trees.

You will also observe the confectioners when they make the confectionery in the workshops. Seeing the machines and the people making the sweets you enjoy so much is always a plus! Of course, the recipe remains a secret, although many clues are offered to you during your visit to the Calisson Museum.

Check the website of the Calisson Museum before going there, especially if you want a guided tour.

Want to discover more about the surroundings? Let yourself be guided:

• What to do in Venelles?
• Terrain des peintres
• Restaurants in Venelles

Where to stay near the Calisson Museum?

Are you looking for affordable and comfortable accommodation near the Calisson Museum? In this case, our B&B HOTEL Aix-en-Provence Venelles proves to be the best solution. Located in the small town of Venelles 10 km from the sub-prefecture Aix-en-Provence, it is an ideal location to discover the Provence region. Indeed, you are located not far from the big city, without suffering the disadvantages of it.

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In our B&B HOTEL, you will be very close to nature and calm. And if you are a professional, you can organize your company seminar in Venelles in this establishment.

The Calisson Museum is only about fifteen minutes from our establishment. Aix-en-Provence can be reached in less than fifteen minutes and Marseille, capital of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, is only a 40-minute drive away.

Our hotel has all the necessary equipment for a comfortable stay. Thus, you will find towels and toiletries for free directly in your room. Whatever the reason for your visit here, we provide different types of accommodation according to your profile. From the twin room for professionals to the family room for families, we are sure you will find your happiness. Some are even intended for people with reduced mobility: do not hesitate to make the reservation! The price remains very affordable, which is perfect for all budgets.

In the morning, start the day gently by tasting our unlimited breakfast buffet! We select our products with the greatest care, from trusted partners.

On site, you can park your vehicle with complete peace of mind thanks to our closed and free parking. A late arrival is planned? No worries: thanks to the use of our outdoor terminal, you will get your access code for your room. You will only have to enter your reservation number to use this service to pay for your stay by credit card and then get your number and the code of your room!

Find our seminar hotels in Aix-en-Provence to make your event a success. And if you prefer to stay close to big cities, check out our hotels near Marseille.