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To Aix-en-Provence
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Aix-en-Provence, France
Aix-en-Provence in France with e-travelguide.info
Welcome To the e-travelguide to Hotels, guest houses and attractions in Aix-en-Provence.
Make the most of your time in Aix-en-Provence, use the information provided on this web site by clicking on the links above to plan your visit.
Full of fountains and rich in art and history, Aix-en-Provence is known for being a town of water and a town of art; the dual identity around which it is built. The city is situated in the south east of France in the popular region of Provence and brings an array of historic and glamorous features to the area. It is in this part of the country that visitors are able to enjoy just some of the 300 days of sunshine that are said to be in abundance throughout the year.
Since its birth in the year 122BC Aix-en-Provence has been through several name alterations thanks to its various changes in rulers. This lengthy history has ensured a particular abundance of historic and architectural heritage which can be seen in several areas of the city. With some 140,000 inhabitants attributed to Aix, many more are added to the number throughout the year, paying testament to the health of the tourism section of the economy.
The city is home to four well known cultural highlights; they are the Old Town, the Villeneuve, the Cours Mirabeau and the Mazarin Quarter. The Old Town shows Aix-en-Provence’s role as a market town and is home to the city of the counts as well as various other impressive traditional buildings. Villeneuve shows off a number of mansions which enjoyed an overhaul as long as ago as the 16th century. At the Cours Mirabeau visitors will find a wide tree-lined road with large houses and fountains all around. This road serves to divide the city into two and follows the line of the old town wall. Lastly, the Mazarin Quarter comprises the 17th century grid pattern of roads and is home to the Arband Museum.
Aix-en-Provence enjoys an abundance of springs which, as already mentioned, has led to the welling up of in the region of 40 fountains. The oldest of the fountains is named the Espeleque and dates back to the 15th century, while famous ones include the fountain of the four dolphins which was unveiled in 1667, the town hall fountain of 1756 and the rather imposing Rotunda fountain.
Aix is also known for its bastides, or large houses, and their gardens which are to be found just outside the city centre. They date back to the 17th and 18th centuries and reveal something of the famed art of living among the French families who have lived there in the past. And, as if the evidence of all this history wasn’t enough, there are also a number of museums to mark and store some of the area’s heritage. There are the Granet, the Arband, the Old Aix, the Tapestry, the Vendome, the Cezanne Studio, the Natural History and the Vasarely Foundation museums.
Finally, adding further confirmation of the city’s cultural prestige, several events and activities are held throughout the year on an annual basis. There are two music festivals – the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence which brings operatic offerings and the Musique dans la Rue which features various classical, jazz and popular music performances. The Lyric Arts Festival, the Cite du Livre and the National Choreographic Centre also provide evidence of Aix’s attraction.