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My visit to Aix en Provence was rather short because of the Mistral a very cold strong blowing wind which makes you feel very uncomfortable. So we just walked along the main street and I got an overview of this old town. Anyway the city center, mostly pedestrian is quite small, you can cross the center in 15 minutes by foot, which suited us very well under these circumstances ! As in all Provençal towns, the city center consists of narrow streets, lined with interesting buildings from 17th century hotels to paved plazas.
It is also famous for being home to Cézanne, the French artist and Post-Impressionist painter.
This gives you an idea of his paintings, you can also visit his workshop, which unfortunately we didn't know where it was and I had forgotten to look for it on Internet.
I took some pictures of the city center
Beautiful architecture
It was hard to figure out who this king was because it was all written in latin and the inscription quite damaged but thanks to my little latin school knowledge, and with the help of Wikipedia I found out that it was the King René of Anjou. (Now I feel better)
Little bistros all along the main street
nice doors
pigeons "painting" gargoyls
Some other views from the main street
and the quiet big fountain of "La Rotonde" built in 1860. Three statues (Justice, Agriculture and Fine Arts) stand on the top of the fountain. There are 12 bronze lions and swans, mermaids and dolphins overlapped by cherubs. Originally, the fountain was filled with the waters of the Canal du Verdon. Since 1974, the fountain of water is recycled.
Brussels Time.jpg)
18 comments:
Beautiful shots of the city. Those sculptures are marvelous.
Despite the cold wind, you did make a lot of nice pictures!
A lovely tour of the city, the sculpture are all beautiful and the fountain is my favorite. Thanks for sharing, have a great week!
Nice place for a day's picnic I am sure. Great pictures.
I plan to be in Belgium in first week of April.
the first house looks like my villa :) my one is in stuttgart - germany.
wonderful shots of a nice trip!
What a pretty town... a shame it was so cold.
Thanks for the tour of this beautiful town. I think that's one of the places my daughter visited when she was studying in Montpellier.
What a wonderful story with great photos. I love this beautiful city. Greetings.
What a lovely town and such a delightful tour you've taken us on, Gattina, through your photos! I love the fountain and the Cezanne paintings! Looks as though you had great weather, too! Have a great week!
Sylvia
Always heard about the mistral, but never been in it! Oh, Sezanne -I love his use of white -quite extraordinairy! Thanks for giving us views of the city, Gattina:)
What a darling little place. It is so beautiful.
I can still feel this cold wind if I close my eyes and come back in the past!Very interesting post Ingrid! Just reading I learn a lot about Aix and the famous fountain! I wish we 'll have beautiful weather when visiting this town again for a long walk in the old part of the town!
sorry 'bout the wind -- but what a beautiful place this is (and it didn't feel windy to me at all ;>)..that's where pictures are better than the real thing~
So much to see in Europe. I often think we have nothing in comparison. We are still young here lol
Very nice pictures. I love the door. Guess I just have a thing for pretty, unusual doors.
Hi Gattina! Hope you’re having a Happy Easter! Sorry for the absence, but things are ever more difficult here...
Aix au soleil... Great!!
Blogtrotter Two is now somewhere in the Virgin Islands... Enjoy and have a great week ahead!!!
I have found you :)
Lovely, lovely, lovely. Nice captures. We loved Aix en Provence even though we were only there for a very short time. I suspect that there are much, much more to explore there - as in many French places.
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