Yes please: two weeks of French in sunny Aix, then hop the TGV and whoosh—Paris by lunch. The direct Aix-en-Provence TGV → Paris-Gare-de-Lyon run clocks as fast as about 3h00 on the quickest trains (typical journeys ~3h30–3h40, depending on the service). (SNCF Connect)
The simple itinerary
Weeks 1–2: classes in Aix (mornings), lazy afternoons (markets, cafés, pétanque “practice”).
Week 3: TGV to Paris for museums, flânerie, and smugly saying “Un café, s’il vous plaît” like you meant it all along.
Getting to the TGV (zero stress)
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From Aix Gare Routière take the A2 (ex-40) shuttle to Aix-en-Provence TGV. Runs all day; plan ~20–30 minutes. (lecaraixmarseille)
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The TGV station sits about 15 km from town; the tourist office confirms the shuttle link and handy transfers. (Aix en Provence - Office de Tourisme)
Paris local transport (one easy pass)
For a full week, grab Navigo Semaine (all zones)—currently about €31.60 when loaded onto a Navigo Découverte or compatible media. Unlimited metro/RER/bus/tram Monday→Sunday. (RATP)
A 7-day Paris that pairs with your studies
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Day 1 – Right Bank warm-up: Île Saint-Louis → Marais.
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Day 2 – Big art, small bites: Louvre (reserve), Tuileries picnic.
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Day 3 – Left Bank words: Saint-Germain bookshops, Musée d’Orsay.
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Day 4 – Views & verbs: Montmartre walk; practice imparfait while admiring the present.
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Day 5 – Markets & manners: Aligre or Saxe-Breteuil, then an apéro.
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Day 6 – Your wildcard: Versailles, Canal Saint-Martin, or a long museum you’ll actually read.
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Day 7 – Slow Sunday: Promenade on the Seine quays, one last café.
(Pro-tip: Paris trains arrive at Gare de Lyon—that handsome clocktower you’ve seen a thousand times—so your Week-3 selfie is basically pre-installed.)
Micro-study plan by level (do this in Aix so Paris feels easy)
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A1: Café survival kit. Orderings, numbers, Je voudrais…, left/right, Où est la sortie ? Keep it tiny and repeatable.
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A2: Past-tense postcards. Practice passé composé vs imparfait with trip moments: Hier, j’ai visité…; Quand j’étais petit…
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B1: Polite Parisian power moves. Conditionnel for soft requests (Je prendrais bien…), pronouns (le/la/lui/y/en) so you don’t lasso your own sentence.
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B2: Cultural conversations. Short museum texts; connectors (cependant, d’ailleurs, en revanche) to sound like a person who reads plaques.
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C1/C2: Style & nuance. Work on register shifts (tu/vous dance), idioms, and trimming hedges from your sentences.
Booking & train tips that save your patience
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Direct TGV INOUI trains run throughout the day; fastest around 3 hours, with many services in the ~3h30 band. Check exact times for your date. (SNCF Connect)
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Arrive at Aix TGV ~20 min early; platforms post close to departure.
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In Paris, follow Métro signs downstairs and ride out with your Navigo.
Your turn 👇
Who’s in for “two weeks of bonjour, one week of bon chic”? Drop your favorite Aix school/class, your top Paris day-trip, or your best TGV seat-hack (quiet car? window? snacks?). If you’ve done this combo, what clicked—and what would you do differently next time? Allez, racontez-nous !