Aix en Provence France | The City of 1000 Fountains | 90 + Countries with 3 Kids
Welcome to our tour of Aix-en-Provence!
Aix-en-Provence in Southern France is a charming little city that is just a short drive away from the beaches of the Côte d’Azur. It received its name from a thermal spring and it was founded as Aquae Sextiae by Sextius Calvinus in 122BC. This means that Aix-en-Provence is packed with history. With more than 300 sunny days each year it’s the perfect place for romantic and holiday vacations where visitors can enjoy its facades, cobblestone streets and thermal springs.
Often called Aix by locals, this city is one of the most appealing destinations in the South of France. Known as is the city of a thousand fountains, it has a backdrop of breathtaking mountains and countryside, and is home to some fantastic gastronomy.
Thanks to its compact centre, this is a city that’s easily explored on foot. We recommend you first visit the main thoroughfare, Cours Mirabeau, a street lined with cafés, restaurants and elegant houses, all shaded by rows of centuries-old trees.
Here, on Cours Mirabeau, you will get to see three of the city’s more notable fountains. The first one is a 19th-century work depicting King René holding the Muscat grapes he introduced to Provence in the 15th century. The second is a natural hot spring covered in moss, dating back to Roman times and the last one is a 1860 La Rotonde, beneath three giant statues representing art, justice and agriculture. However, the most spectacular fountain of all is the 17th-century Fontaine des Quatre Dauphins (Fountain of the Four Dolphins) in the Quartier Mazarin.
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A Walk Around The Beautiful Town of Aix En Provence, France
Aix-en-Provence is a city and commune in Southern France, about 30 km (19 mi) north of Marseille. A former capital of Provence, it is in the region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, in the department of Bouches-du-Rhône, of which it is a subprefecture. The population of Aix-en-Provence numbers approximately 143,000. Its inhabitants are called Aixois or, less commonly, Aquisextains.
The Cours Mirabeau is a wide thoroughfare, planted with double rows of plane trees, bordered by fine houses and decorated by fountains. It follows the line of the old city wall, and divides the town into two sections. The new town extends to the south and west; the old town, with its narrow, irregular streets and its old mansions dating from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, lies to the north. Situated on this avenue, which is lined on one side with banks and on the other with cafés, is the Deux Garçons, the most famous brasserie in Aix. Built in 1792, it was frequented by the likes of Paul Cézanne, Émile Zola and Ernest Hemingway.
The Cathedral of the Holy Saviour (Aix Cathedral) is situated to the north in the medieval part of Aix. Built on the site of a former Roman forum and an adjacent basilica, it contains a mixture of all styles from the 5th to the 17th century, including a richly decorated portal in the Gothic style with doors elaborately carved in walnut. The interior contains 16th-century tapestries, a 15th-century triptych, depicting King René and his wife on the side panels, as well as a Merovingian baptistery, its Renaissance dome supported by original Roman columns. The archbishop's palace (Palais de l'Archêveché) and a Romanesque cloister adjoin the cathedral on its south side. The Archbishopric of Aix is now shared with Arles.
Among its other public institutions, Aix also has the second most important Appeal Court (Palais de Justice) outside of Paris, located near the site of the former Palace of the Counts (Palais des Comtes) of Provence.
The Aix-en-Provence Town Hall (Hôtel de Ville), a building in the classical style of the middle of the 17th century, looks onto a picturesque square (Place de l'Hôtel de Ville). It contains some fine woodwork and tapestries. At its side rises a handsome clock-tower erected in 1510. Also on the Place de l'Hôtel de Ville is the former Corn Exchange (1759–1761) (Halle de Grains). This ornately decorated 18th-century building was designed by the Vallon brothers. Nearby are the remarkable thermal springs, containing lime and carbonic acid, that first drew the Romans to Aix and gave it the name Aquae Sextiae. A spa was built in 1705 near the remains of the ancient Roman baths of Sextius.
South of the Cours Mirabeau is the Quartier Mazarin. This residential district was constructed for the gentry of Aix by Archbishop Michele Mazzarino brother of Cardinal Jules Mazarin in the last half of the 17th century and contains several notable hôtels particuliers. The 13th-century church of Saint-Jean-de-Malte contains valuable pictures and a recently restored organ. Next to it is the Musée Granet, devoted to European painting and sculpture.
Aix is often referred to as the city of a thousand fountains. Among the most notable are the 17th-century Fontaine des Quatre Dauphins (Fountain of the Four Dolphins) in the Quartier Mazarin, designed by Jean-Claude Rambot, and three of the fountains down the central Cours Mirabeau: At the top, a 19th-century fountain depicts the good king René holding the Muscat grapes that he introduced to Provence in the 15th century; halfway down is a natural hot water fountain (34 °C), covered in moss, dating back to the Romans; and at the bottom at la Rotonde, the hub of modern Aix, stands a monumental fountain from 1860 beneath three giant statues representing art, justice and agriculture. In the older part of Aix, there are also fountains of note in the Place d'Albertas and the Place des Trois-Ormeaux.
Aix en Provence walking tour
Aix-en-Provence is a joy to discover. You'll most likely begin your explorations of Aix on the main street, which is also the first street you'll come to, Cours Mirabeau, the broad street established in 1651. Simply called the Cours, it is sometimes considered the most attractive boulevard in all France: lined with shops, outdoor cafés and restaurants in all price ranges along a wide sidewalk with magnificent plane trees towering overhead and three moss-covered fountains in the middle of the street.
The three beautiful fountains along the quarter are called, first of all the fountain of the nine canons, and then the so-called mossy fountain from which flows a warm thermal water that generates a thick foam that covers the fountain with the green moss. And at the top of the boulevard there's the fountain of King René designed in 1819, and it adorns a work of the artist David Angers.
It was the French back in the 19th century who perfected the art of walking for sheer pleasure. They called it the flaneur, the aimless wanderer where you're just walking along, alert to your surroundings, observing things, interesting, even unimportant details, not so much worried about your destination, but enjoying the journey. 13A: This art of walking, or flaneur, was very well described by a 19th century French writer named Victor Fournel, who asks us: have you reflected on everything contained in the term flaneur, this most enchanting word which is revered by the poets? Go on infinite investigations through the streets and promenades, drift along with your nose in the wind with both hands in your pocket, with an umbrella under your arm, and an open-minded spirit. Walk along with serendipity without pondering where, and without hurrying. Stop in front of stores to regard their images, at street corners to read their signs, by the book stands to touch and smell. Give yourself over captivated and enraptured with all your senses and all your mind to the spectacle. The 19th century Parisians elevated walking to a fine art.
We show you these streets in the historic center of Aix: Avenue Victor Hugo, Cathédrale Saint Sauveu, Cours Mirabeau, Place de l'Hôtel de ville, Place de Verdun, Place des Tanneurs, Place des Trois Ormeaux, Place Forum des Cardeurs, Place Ramus, Place Saint-Honoré, Rue Aumône Vieille, Rue Bédarrides, Rue Boulegon, Rue Brueys, Rue Chabrier, Rue Clemenceau, Rue Courteissade, Rue de l'Ancienne Madeleine, Rue de la Couronne, Rue de la Masse, Rue des Chapeliers, Rue des Cordeliers, Rue des Tanneurs, Rue Espariat, Rue Fabrot, Rue Gaston de Saporta, Rue Granet, Rue Matheron, Rue Nazareth, Rue Papassaudi, Rue Paul Bert, Rue Vauvenargues,
Aix-en-Provence - Walking Tour (With Costa Diadema)
Mediterranean with Costa Diadema
Mediterrâneo com Costa Diadema
17 to 24 January 2016
17/01/2016 - Marseille/Marselha (France/França)
18/01/2016 - Barcelona (Spain/Espanha)
19/01/2016 - Mallorca (Spain/Espanha)
20/01/2016 - At Sea/Navegação
21/01/2016 - Rome/Roma (Italy/Itália)
22/01/2016 - La Spezia (Italy/Itália)
23/01/2016 - Savona (Italy/Itália)
24/01/2016 - Marseille/Marselha (France/França)
24/01/2016 - Aix-en-Provence - Walking Tour
Passeio pela cidade de Aix-en-Provence pelas suas ruas estreitas e pelas suas praças, observando as diversas fontes, e destaque para o Hôtel de Ville e a magnifica rua Cours Mirabeau.
City tour of Aix-en-Provence through its narrow streets and its squares, watching the various fountains, and especially the Hôtel de Ville and the magnificent street Cours Mirabeau.
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Places to see in ( Aix en Provence - France )
Places to see in ( Aix en Provence - France )
Aix-en-Provence is a university city in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of southern France. It was the birthplace of Post-Impressionist painter Paul Cézanne. A walking trail links sites including his childhood home, Jas de Bouffan, and his former studio, Atelier Cézanne. The white limestone mountain Sainte-Victoire overlooking the city as well as the surrounding countryside were frequent subjects of his works.
A pocket of left-bank Parisian chic deep in Provence, Aix (pronounced like the letter X) is all class: its leafy boulevards and public squares are lined with 17th- and 18th-century mansions, punctuated by gurgling moss-covered fountains. Haughty stone lions guard its grandest avenue, cafe-laced cours Mirabeau, where fashionable Aixois pose on polished pavement terraces sipping espresso. While Aix is a student hub, its upscale appeal makes it pricier than other Provençal towns.
Aix-en-Provence (usually simply called Aix) is a small, classically Provençal town, famous for being home to Cézanne; the addition of the TGV (high-speed train) station has brought lots of vacationers from the north, and Aix has turned into a shopping town with high variety and representation considering its small size. Three universities and several French-language schools for international students produce a very strong student presence.
Aix has always been a rich city. There is a high contrast between Marseille (only 30 km and half an hour away). Whereas Marseille is one of the poorest French cities (but still a unique and not to be missed town), Aix is perhaps one of the richest. People seeking for budget or popular places should continue to Marseille. Still, Aix has a lot to offer. It is a quiet, clean and comfortable city. The city center is mostly pedestrian and, though it is quite small (you can cross the centre in 15 min by foot), offers long hours of nice walks. As in all Provençal towns, the city centre consists of narrow streets, lined with interesting buildings from 17th century hotels to paved plazas.
Aix is famous for its fountains. The largest and most famous is on the Cours Mirabeau, the main avenue through town, as well as a moss-covered fountain which draws its water from a hot spring.
Along with searching out the dozens of fountains sprawled around the city, Aix is known for its architecture. The varied and often intricate doors are a key feature, as well as the bell towers. The bell towers throughout Aix-en-Provence, and Provence more generally, are made of wrought iron. Alot to see in Aix such as :
Cathedral St. Sauveur.
The Hôtel de Ville.
The Tour de l'Horloge.
The quartier Mazarin and its narrow streets.
The Granet museum.
Cézanne workshop.
The Cézanne trail.
The Old Aix museum.
Vendôme Pavilion
Château Paradis
Châteauneuf le Rouge
Saint Marc Jaumegarde
Venelles
( Aix en Provence - France ) is well know as a tourist destination because of the variety of places you can enjoy while you are visiting Aix en Provence . Through a series of videos we will try to show you recommended places to visit in Aix en Provence - France
Join us for more :
Places to see in ( Aix en Provence - France )
Places to see in ( Aix en Provence - France )
ix-en-Provence is a university city in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of southern France. Aix en Provence was the birthplace of Post-Impressionist painter Paul Cézanne. A walking trail links sites including his childhood home, Jas de Bouffan, and his former studio, Atelier Cézanne. The white limestone mountain Sainte-Victoire overlooking Aix en Provence as well as the surrounding countryside were frequent subjects of his works. Aix en Provence is a city-commune in the south of France, about 30 km (19 mi) north of Marseille.
The Cours Mirabeau is a wide thoroughfare, planted with double rows of plane-trees, bordered by fine houses and decorated by fountains. Deux Garçons, the most famous brasserie in Aix. Built in 1792, it has been frequented by the likes of Paul Cézanne, Émile Zola and Ernest Hemingway.
The Cathedral of the Holy Saviour (Aix Cathedral) is situated to the north in the medieval part of Aix. Built on the site of a former Roman forum and an adjacent basilica, depicting King René and his wife on the side panels, as well as a Merovingian baptistery, its Renaissance dome supported by original Roman columns. The archbishop's palace (Palais de l'Archêveché) and a Romanesque cloister adjoin the cathedral on its south side. The Archbishopric of Aix is now shared with Arles.
Among its other public institutions, Aix also has the second most important Appeal Court (Palais de Justice) outside of Paris, located near the site of the former Palace of the Counts (Palais des Comtes) of Provence. The Hôtel de Ville, a building in the classical style of the middle of the 17th century, looks onto a picturesque square (place de l'Hôtel de Ville). It contains some fine woodwork and tapestries. At its side rises a handsome clock-tower erected in 1510. Also on the Place de l'Hôtel de Ville is the former Corn Exchange (1759–1761) (Halle de Grains). This ornately decorated 18th-century building was designed by the Vallon brothers. Nearby are the remarkable thermal springs, containing lime and carbonic acid, that first drew the Romans to Aix and gave it the name Aquae Sextiae. A spa was built in 1705 near the remains of the ancient Roman baths of Sextius.
South of the Cours Mirabeau is the Quartier Mazarin. This residential district was constructed for the gentry of Aix by Archbishop Michele Mazzarino brother of Cardinal Jules Mazarin in the last half of the 17th century and contains several notable hôtels particuliers. The 13th-century church of Saint-Jean-de-Malte contains valuable pictures and a recently restored organ. Next to it is the Musée Granet, devoted to European painting and sculpture.
Aix is often referred to as the city of a thousand fountains. Among the most notable are the 17th-century Fontaine des Quatre Dauphins (Fountain of the Four Dolphins) in the Quartier Mazarin, designed by Jean-Claude Rambot, and three of the fountains down the central Cours Mirabeau: At the top, a 19th-century fountain depicts the good king René holding the Muscat grapes that he introduced to Provence in the 15th century; halfway down is a natural hot water fountain (34 °C), covered in moss, dating back to the Romans; and at the bottom at la Rotonde, the hub of modern Aix, stands a monumental fountain from 1860 beneath three giant statues representing art, justice and agriculture. In the older part of Aix, there are also fountains of note in the Place d'Albertas and the Place des Trois-Ormeaux.
To the east of Aix rises the Montagne Sainte-Victoire (1011 m), one of the landmarks of the Pays d'Aix. It is accessible from the centre of Aix by road or on foot, taking the wooded footpath of Escrachou Pevou to the plateau of Bibemus.
Aix has several museums and galleries:
Le Musée du Vieil Aix (Museum of Old Aix)
Le Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle (Natural History Museum).
Le Musée de Tapisseries (Tapestry Museum)
Le Musée Paul Arbaud (Faïence/Pottery).
Le Musée Granet
Le Pavillon de Vendôme
The Vasarely Foundation
L'atelier Cézanne
Jas de Bouffan
( Aix en Provence - France ) is well know as a tourist destination because of the variety of places you can enjoy while you are visiting the city of Aix en Provence . Through a series of videos we will try to show you recommended places to visit in Aix en Provence - France
Join us for more :
Aix en Provence, France - Francia
Aix en Provence is in the region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, in the département of Bouches-du-The Cours Mirabeau is a wide thoroughfare, planted with double rows of plane-trees, bordered by fine houses and decorated by fountains. It follows the line of the old city wall and divides the town into two sections. Aix is often referred to as the city of a thousand fountains. Among the most notable are the 17th century Fontaine des Quatre Dauphins (Fountain of the Four Dolphins) in the Quartier Mazarin, designed by Jean-Claude Rambot, and three of the fountains down the central Cours Mirabeau.At the top, a 19th century fountain depicts the good king René holding the Muscat grapes that he introduced to Provence in the 15th century; half-way down is a natural hot water fountain (34 °C), covered in moss, dating back to the Romans; and at the bottom at la Rotonde, the hub of modern Aix, stands a monumental fountain from 1860 beneath three giant statues representing art, justice and agriculture. In the older part of Aix, there are also fountains of note in the Place d'Albertas and the Place des Trois-Ormeaux.
Aix-en-Provence es una comuna francesa, antigua capital de la región histórica de Provenza. Es una de las subprefecturas del departamento de Bocas del Ródano, en la región de Provenza-Alpes-Costa Azul.
El Cours Mirabeau es una avenida sembrada con doble hilera de plátanos, bordeada por edificios antiguos y decorada con fuentes y la avenida divide la ciudad en dos secciones. Aix se refiere a menudo como la ciudad de las mil fuentes. Entre las más notables son los del siglo 17 Fontaine des Quatre Dauphins (Fuente de los Cuatro Delfines) en el Quartier Mazarin, diseñado por Jean-Claude Rambot, y también diseñó tres de las fuentes de la avenida Mirabeau. En la parte superior se encuentra una fuente del siglo 19 que representa el rey bueno René, con uvas moscatel en sus manos que el introdujo a la Provenza en el siglo 15. En la mitad de la avenida se encuentra una fuente de agua natural (34 ° C), cubierta de musgo que se remonta a la época de los romanos.
Provence(Toulon) France - Aix en Provence
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Architecture, history, food or shopping! Whatever your interest is, the ambiance and medieval charm of Aix en Provence is irresistible. Leaving the harbor of Toulon, you'll drive to Aix en Provence, the Capital of Provence. Your guide will take you for a walking tour where you'll see the Cours Mirabeau one of the most popular and lively areas in town. This wide avenue decorated with fountains and shaded by rows of trees is the central hub of Aix. Built in the 17th century on the site of the medieval ramparts, the Cours Mirabeau originally had no shops or boutiques.
On one side stand the aristocratic facades of the old hotels with their finely carved doorways and wrought-iron balconies. One of the nicest fountains you'll see is certainly the natural hot water fountain covered with moss, dating from 1734. You'll reach Saint Sauveur Cathedral, a unique building due to its combination of architectural styles that date from the 5th to the 17th century - the Romanesque nave, baptistery of the Merovingian period, Triptych of the Burning Bush and the flamboyant Gothic part. Enjoy some free time in Aix before your drive back to Toulon.
Aix-en-Provence, France
Aix-en-Provence is so lovely that various French surveys have chosen it the most desirable city in which to live, due to the ambience of this special place. The modest population of just 150,000 residents gives it a small-town charm, yet Aix is big enough to provide all the necessities and comforts of urban living. Nearly 30 percent are university students, lending an air of youthful energy, culture and enthusiasm, plus you'll always find budget places to eat when there are so many young people around.
You'll most likely begin your explorations of Aix on the main street, which is also the first street you'll come to, Cours Mirabeau, the broad street established in 1651. Simply called the Cours, it is sometimes considered the most attractive boulevard in all France: lined with shops, outdoor cafés and restaurants in all price ranges along a wide sidewalk with magnificent plane trees towering overhead and three moss-covered fountains in the middle of the street.
You'll experience a human scale throughout town -- even the public buses are small, some are electric powered and very tiny for just a few passengers, providing excellent service.
Another attractive square is the Forum des Cardeurs, whose pastel façades surrounding the large central plaza, creating a distinctly Provençal atmosphere, enhanced by a row of outdoor restaurants. Cardeurs is often frequented by university students, and the local yuppie crowd out for lunch, so it's a prime spot to have a meal.
So you really have the best of all worlds. It's a sophisticated urban place, and yet it's a small city, so you've got all the amenities: the walking distance, you've got a shop on the corner you got the café around the bend. there's a bar, there are restaurants, outdoor plazas, fountains, beautiful boulevards, wonderful colors of the buildings, tree-lined streets -- what more could you possibly ask for? There's a mix here in population of University kids, there's older folks, there's working people, there's some immigrant vitality. You've got train stations that will take you to some nearby places that are wonderful, such as Arles and Marseille, you've got the entire Cote d'Azur you are just an hour or two away. And you're in Provence. This is the good life.
The fountain of Salon de Provence 2008 France by Roger Rousseau.AVI
Beautiful fountain in the shape of a tree... That day it was 35degre centigrade...
Aix en Provence France
You're going to find that the city of Aix-en-Provence in the south of France is one of the most delightful places you could ever visit as you’re about to discover out in this detailed movie.
We bring you on a detgailed walking tour of the large pedestrian zone with its charming historic buildings, many shops, cafés, restaurants and the very famous outdoor markets selling fresh produce, clothing, antiques and all kinds of stuff with lots of local characters to observe and interact with. This small city is the perfect size, big enough to keep you busy for several days and yet not too large that you're going to feel lost or frustrated that you can't see everything.
Aix is located in the heart of Provence, a region that has so many wonderful destinations from Avignon to Nice. And you will see that AIX is one place that you must not miss.
You could easily spend a few days here and travel out to visit other nearby destinations, or if you only have one day, it is certainly possible to see most of AIX as we’re going to show you in the movie.
Candy stores like fairy land 3beansabroad's photos around Aix-en-Provence, France
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Entry from: Aix-en-Provence, France
Entry Title: Candy stores like fairy land
Entry:
I'm not sure how much I can get down tonight because I'm dog-tired, but Lucy has gone off to the cyber-cafe and I'm here. Let's see what I can come up with...
Food here is pretty cheap, restaurants are very expensive, so we went back to Les Halles, the marketplace in Avignon to pick up some supplies for some lunches, snacks and dinners. Also, of course, we went for fun because Les Halles is a very cool place. Lucy bought seafood salad, marinated mushrooms (she estimates about 20 kinds), a multigrain bread in the little basket it was baked in and some green olives that had been cured with fennel. The olives were sweet, not salty at all, which was interesting. I bought fresh pasta and a separate container of basil sauce. At the herb shop I purchased a few gifts of Herbes de Provence, sun-dried tomatoes and a pizza spice blend for Kathy and Pat. The cheese monger provided chevre fraiche. I also chose some mixed olives and shallots which will probably get tossed with pasta one night. So far the highlight of this morning's shopping trip was some amazing local grapes that are like little flavor bombs of violet juice in the mouth. We've never had anything like them.
When we got back and unpacked I realized that the basil sauce got left on the pasta counter. Grrrrr. The proprietress was distracted and I was juggling bags, camera and money and we both missed it. So back we went before heading out to Aix-en-Provence.
Some random observations on the way to Aix: parking is much better in Avignon than I would have thought. There is not a whole lot of parking in the city walls, but free parking is available in large lots just outside the walls and even up against the wall. Men do hang out and play bacce ball, just like in the books and movies. There is a group that loiters about the tobacco shop that I have seen several times. Lucy's preferred breakfast is the brioche sucre; mine is the pan au chocolat. King Tut was panhandling near the Eiffel Tower the other day when I was there. He wasn't holding his hand out or anything, he was merely swathed in gold lame, wearing his ceremonial headdress, seated next to a donation plate.
I think that all travel experiences include at least one encounter with a crazy driver. Today we were impressed with how badly one guy wanted to pass people. He'd pass one, wait, then pass another. We were laughing about how much effort it was taking him to get almost nowhere when the guy in front of us slammed on his breaks. The guy in back of us, rather than slamming on his brakes as well, seized this as an opportunity to pass four cars at once! Absolute lunacy, I tell you! We thought we had front row seats to a high-speed head-on colision for sure. The best part is that he saved less than 30 seconds with that maneuver. He turned off the main road a few miles on and he was still only 3 cars in front of us.
Aix has a gorgeous fountain in a circle named for Charles de Gaulle. The guide book told us that also nearby was a fountain that was naturally hot. Water comes out at 93 degrees and the fountain is covered with moss. The moss part was correct, but I walked over and stuck my hand in the water and it was 50 degrees, tops. The streets and buildings and churches in Aix were all very nice. The orange-yellow buildings look lovely in the sun and really set off the colors of the flowers in the boxes. We were lucky enough to arrive before they closed up the flower market and the fruit/vegetable market for the day. We didn't have long, but we were able to appreciate the riot of colors and smells. The mint was very powerful in the veg. market.
Highlights:
Lucy read to me about a scandalous murder that ...
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Photos from this trip:
1. Maybe later... raspberries now
2. Mmmmmm
3. Lovely displays
4. Fairy land treats
5. Bought some of these...
6. ...and one of those on the right...
7. ...which is excellent with this!
8. Rejected cheese
9. Watch it being made through the window
10. Just a little too much for two, but tempting
11. Buildings in Aix
12. Patriotic Aix
13. Flower market Aix
14. Love those flower boxes
15. One of Aix's many fountains
16. Woman getting shopping done in Aix
17. In the steps of Cezanne
18. Eating lunch perilously close to traffic
19. Water fountain somewhere in Aix
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Aix en Provence - 14 October 2008
Aix-en-Provence [French pronunciation: [ɛksɑ̃pʁovɑ̃s]] (Provençal Occitan: Ais de Provença in classical norm, or Ais de Prouvènço in Mistralian norm, pronounced [ˈajz de pʀuˈvɛⁿsɔ], Latin: Aquae Sextiae),[2] or simply Aix (pronounced: [ɛks]; medieval Occitan Aics), is a city-commune in the south of France, about 30 km (19 mi) north of Marseille. It is in the region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, in the department of Bouches-du-Rhône, of which it is a subprefecture. The population of Aix numbers approximately 143,000. Its inhabitants are called Aixois or, less commonly, Aquisextains.
The Cours Mirabeau is a wide thoroughfare, planted with double rows of plane-trees, bordered by fine houses and decorated by fountains. It follows the line of the old city wall and divides the town into two sections. The new town extends to the south and west; the old town, with its narrow, irregular streets and its old mansions dating from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, lies to the north. Along this avenue, which is lined on one side with banks and on the other with cafés, is the Deux Garçons, the most famous brasserie in Aix. Built in 1792, it has been frequented by the likes of Paul Cézanne, Émile Zola and Ernest Hemingway.
The Cathedral of the Holy Saviour (Aix Cathedral) is situated to the north in the medieval part of Aix. Built on the site of a former Roman forum and an adjacent basilica, it contains a mixture of all styles from the 5th to the 17th century, including a richly decorated portal in the Gothic style with doors elaborately carved in walnut. The interior contains 16th-century tapestries, a 15th-century triptych, depicting King René and his wife on the side panels, as well as a Merovingian baptistery, its Renaissance dome supported by original Roman columns. The archbishop's palace (Palais de l'Archêveché) and a Romanesque cloister adjoin the cathedral on its south side. The Archbishopric of Aix is now shared with Arles.
Among its other public institutions, Aix also has the second most important Appeal Court (Palais de Justice) outside of Paris, located near the site of the former Palace of the Counts (Palais des Comtes) of Provence.
The Hôtel de Ville, a building in the classical style of the middle of the 17th century, looks onto a picturesque square (place de l'Hôtel de Ville). It contains some fine woodwork and tapestries. At its side rises a handsome clock-tower erected in 1510. Also on the Place de l'Hôtel de Ville is the former Corn Exchange (1759–1761) (Halle de Grains). This ornately decorated 18th-century building was designed by the Vallon brothers. Nearby are the remarkable thermal springs, containing lime and carbonic acid, that first drew the Romans to Aix and gave it the name Aquae Sextiae. A spa was built in 1705 near the remains of the ancient Roman baths of Sextius.
South of the Cours Mirabeau is the Quartier Mazarin. This residential district was constructed for the gentry of Aix by Archbishop Michele Mazzarino brother of Cardinal Jules Mazarin in the last half of the 17th century and contains several notable hôtels particuliers. The 13th-century church of Saint-Jean-de-Malte contains valuable pictures and a recently restored organ. Next to it is the Musée Granet, devoted to European painting and sculpture.
Aix is often referred to as the city of a thousand fountains. Among the most notable are the 17th-century Fontaine des Quatre Dauphins (Fountain of the Four Dolphins) in the Quartier Mazarin, designed by Jean-Claude Rambot, and three of the fountains down the central Cours Mirabeau: At the top, a 19th-century fountain depicts the good king René holding the Muscat grapes that he introduced to Provence in the 15th century; halfway down is a natural hot water fountain (34 °C), covered in moss, dating back to the Romans; and at the bottom at la Rotonde, the hub of modern Aix, stands a monumental fountain from 1860 beneath three giant statues representing art, justice and agriculture. In the older part of Aix, there are also fountains of note in the Place d'Albertas and the Place des Trois-Ormeaux.
Provence (Toulon) France - Toulon Walking Tour
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Set out for an interesting walking tour which starts alongside the main pier of the traditional fishing harbor. Admire the facade of the 17th century City Hall built by local architect Pierre Puget. Walk around the old quarter of the city of Toulon with its Cathedral Sainte Marie de la Seds, founded in the 5th century. See small shady Provencal squares with their moss-covered fountains. Admire elegant monuments from the eclectic 19th century including the high-flying opera building and the majestic Fountain of Liberty, a tribute to the French Revolution and built over the medieval walls.
All the sites are within walking distance. Take some free time to stroll around the streets and the morning market. At the end of the tour, you might follow your guide back to your ship or stay in town and return on your own.
Note: Tour participation is limited. There are approximately 1 1/2 miles of walking over relatively flat terrain and 10-20 steps to negotiate
Views Around Marseille City Centre, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France - 12th July, 2014
This film features views around Marseille city centre taken on a short walk from the old port to the top of La Canabière, via several side streets, identified locations, features and places along the way include the following: Église Saint-Ferréol, La Samaritaine, Quai du Port, The Old Port, Palais de la Bourse, La Canebière, Rue Saint-Ferreol, Prefecture of Police of the Bouches-du-Rhône, Rue Armény, Rue Moustier, The Fountain of Homer Sculpture, Rue de l'Arc, Rue d'Aubagne, Rue des Feuillants, Monument aux Mobilisés and Église Saint-Vincent-de-Paul.