Aix-en-Provence 10 & 11 August

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Aix is a prestigious student hub offering buzzing nightlife, art, culture and architecture. It is only 25k, from Marseilles. It is like a mini Paris, classy and chic, expecially the main tree-lined boulevard, Cours Mirabeau, which is bordered with cafes on one side and a string of Renaissance private mansions from the 17th & 18th centuries on the other. This is where the fashionable Aixois go to flaunt designer labels and sip expressos.

Aix seems to be addicted to fountains. There are three fountains alone along Cours Mirabeau, including the massive cast-iron "Fountain de la Rotonde", dating from 1860 and guarded by haughty, stone lions.

The life of local Paul Cezanne is treasured in Aix. To see where he ate, drank, studied and painted you can follow a walking circuit guided by footpath-embedded bronze plaques.

Some sights:

Cours Mirabeau - grand boulevard
Place des Quatre Dauuphins - fountain with four dolphins dating from 1667
Pard Jourdin - Peaceful garden do,inated by Aix's largest fountain
"Deux Garcons" cafe - formerly frequented by Cezanne
Le Passage Agard - A former Carmelite convent (now lined with shops) which links the Cours Mirabeau to the Law Courts (Palais de Justice)
Saint-Victoire Mountain - surrounding countryside where Cezanne painted his landscapes


PS: Having trouble loading photos - they are coming!
18/8 - added photos

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Photos

Cours Mirabeau
Two of its three fountains in view