C'est la vie!

Aix en Provence 45 F sunny and cool

Aix en Provence, or Aix, is about 20 miles north of Marseille with approx. 145,000 residents. It is a calm and pretty city, home to Paul Cezanne, the painter. It was founded in 123 BC by the Romans. It appears Aix was routinely plundered and changed hands until it became part of France in 1487. It became an important judicial center and today hosts the second most important Appeals Court outside of Paris.

Aix has long been a university town with the first university chartered in 1409 and has become the regions important education and cultural center. Tourism is a big part of the economy and I always associate Aix with fields of lavender and L'Occutaine for soaps, scents etc.

As you drive into the town, your eye is drawn to wide avenues that are lined with mature 'Plane' trees. They remind me of what we know as Sycamore trees based on the leaves on the ground and the tree bark. You can see in the summertime the branches and leaves arch over the streets providing summer shade.

Of course, with the age of the town, the draw is the Old Town. Aix used to be a walled town but the walls have actually been repurposed into housing. Roads were strategically placed around the walls as a reminder of the Old Town boundary. With the age of the town you can imagine there are many different architectural styles depending upon the period when buildings or portions of buildings were constructed. Aix is also known as the city of 1,000 fountains and has the oldest fountain in France. The Fontaine des Quatre Dauphins (the four dolphins) was built in the 17th century.

And when in France, it is always a pleasure to take time at a cafe and people watch while you enjoy a true French croissant and cappuccino. C'est la vie! Enjoy some photos from this sunny day! Sorry - I was too busy enjoying the croissant to take a picture of it.

Some Plane trees lining the avenues, round abouts and smaller streets.

The 4 Dolphins fountain with a 13th century church in the background.

In one of the major plazas is the town hall connected to an interesting clock tower. About half up the tower is a niche that contains a different statue for each season.

The Aix Cathedral ( Church of the Holy Savior) contains items from the 5th to the 17th century. Lovely stained glass, art and off to the side a baptistery (pool or hole in the floor) where people were required to be submerged for the baptism. The Columns that support the rotunda above, are said to be the original roman columns.

From the outside

The nave

The baptistry and columns

The curved residences on the left were built on the foundation of the original wall around the city.

I found the doors to the mansions, palaces, residences all fascinating and unique.

I am a day late in posting Aix en Provence. The next post for Barcelona will solve the mystery. No one will ever guess why, only hope it never happens to you. Let the anticipation grow wild!

Au revoir