Enjoying the morning on the Place de l'Hôtel de ville (City Hall Square)
Sometime in early August 2014, my friend Didier (look at my Sainte-Victoire, Camargue, or any of the wine country pages if you don't remember him) and I were debating where to go for our next photo shoot. At some point, it occurred to me that in spite of having lived in the South of France for over two decades, I had never actually visited Aix-en-Provence. This insight, coupled with the knowledge that Didier has lived in that beautiful place for many years, made me suggest a stroll through the old part of Aix. Fortunately, Didier was fine with this, and on August 20, we met on the outskirts of town.
We spent a good part of the day walking around Aix, and it was an absolute joy to listen to someone who is as knowledgeable and passionate about the history of his town as Didier is. Aix is a city of history (it was founded over 2,000 years ago!), of water (there are fountains everywhere), of beauty, of wide avenues and narrow streets... It would be impossible to try to convey all the information I got from Didier that day. Instead, I encourage you to start reading up on it on your own, starting perhaps with this page. After we had walked a fair bit, we had a very tasty lunch at Chez Jo and a ride in a Diabline, an electric vehicle that is the only form of public transportation allowed in the narrow and cobbled streets of the old town. Finally, Didier drove me along the Avenue Cézanne from where one has a wonderful view of the Montagne Sainte-Victoire. What can I say? Un grand merci to Didier for making this such a wonderful and memorable day!
Click on any image to see a larger (1500 x 1000 pixel) version!
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The lovely Forum des Cardeurs |
L'Hôtel de ville (City Hall) |
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Place de de l'Hôtel de ville (City Hall Square) |
Place de de l'Hôtel de ville (City Hall Square) |
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Tour de l'horloge (Clock tower) |
Relaxing in the heart of town |
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Place des martyres de la Résistance |
In the basement of the tapestry museum |
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Art gallery |
In front of the Institute of Political Studies |
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Inside the Saint Sauveur cathedral |
Inside the octagonal baptistry of the Saint Sauveur cathedral |
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Inside the octagonal baptistry of the Saint Sauveur cathedral |
The cloister |
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The cloister |
Carved decoration on a cloister column |
The cathedral;l seen from the cloister |
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Place des trois ormeaux (Square of the three elms) |
Église des Prêcheurs (Church of the preaching friars) |
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Place des Prêcheurs (Square of the preaching friars) |
The court of appeals |
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In front of the criminal court building |
Statue of Mirabeau inside the criminal court building |
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In front of the criminal court building |
Place Ramus |
Rue Loubon |
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Market in the Place Richelme |
Market in the Place Richelme |
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Rue Aumône Vieille |
La Taverne de Platon |
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Rue Isolette |
Place des Augustins |
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Les Allées Provençales |
Terrasses du Grand Théâtre de Provence |
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Fontaine de la Rotonde |
Cours Mirabeau |
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On the Cours Mirabeau |
The Place d'Albertas |
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The Diabline: environmentally-friendly public transportation |
Our fellow passegers on the Diabline |
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Cézanne's favorite: the Montagne Sainte-Victoire |
View from the Avenue Cézanne |
The photos on this page were taken on August 20, 2014.
These and some additional photographs are also available in one of our web galleries.
Among other things, the gallery allows viewing the photos as a slide show. Check it out!
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