Tuesday, May 07, 2013

VISITING THE CENTER OF AIX EN PROVENCE

While I was on a visit staying with my friend Claudie in the South of France, we had to go to Aix-en-Provence to empty her daughter's flat, as the university year is finished.

It is a beautiful city some 30 km (19 mi) north of Marseille, in the region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur.



I took some pictures of the charming very narrow little street where Melissa had lived !



It also was a very interesting street, because here is the house where the painter Paul Cezanne died. (see post below)



As the streets are so narrow the public transport had to be adapted and I found these little buses really charming ! Even the garbage truck had the same size, unfortunately I couldn't take a picture, but it looked so funny !

A couple of narrow little streets further we arrived at the city hall !





called "The Hôtel de Ville", a building in the classical style of the middle of the 17th century, it looks onto a picturesque square (place de l'Hôtel de Ville). I didn't visit the inside which apparently is very beautiful.



The first thing you see arriving on the square is 



a clock-tower erected in 1510.



beautifully sculptured



The square is surrounded by cafés and restaurants




a charming fountain is just in the middle of the square



We had bought sandwiches and drinks, sat there and had a picnic !



while the fountain's heads spit their water.



Leaving the square we ended on another square where a big market was, selling vegetables, flowers and other things.

We then left the town and drove up to the hills where Cézanne used to paint



Today it is a place where painters gather and paint. (see post below)

I certainly will return to Aix another time to visit more.

8 comments:

Jim said...

Wonderful scenes.

Jo said...

This is a beautiful and interesting place. I love the cleanliness of the streets! And the detail to all the building and sculptures. The clock is amazing. Have a great day! Jo

Anonymous said...

What a charming town!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Gattina .. Aix certainly looks worth another visit .. and a visit from me one day ..

So pleased you showed us - thank you ..
Hilary

Dana said...

So lovely there. Thanks for this wonderful tour!

K V V S MURTHY said...

ENTICING CAPTURES..!

Unknown said...

Great tour!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

Sandra Carlier said...

I will regret this studio in Aix en Provence in the narrow street where Cézanne died. We had such good time there!!! And the hill where Cézanne painted the Sainte victoire is so nice!!!!We had even a nice meeting with a poet!

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I love writing, traveling and photography. . I am German, married to an Italian and we live in Waterloo (15 km from Brussels) / Belgium since many years. Waterloo is a famous place to many tourists, because Napoleon lost his battle here against Wellington and other European countries.

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