June 2008. This photo-journal is about the beautiful and historic college town of about 150,000 in southern France that was once the capital of the Kingdom of Provence.
Aix began in 123 BC as Aquae Sextiae, a Roman springs and spa situated in a fertile plain with a warm climate near the Arc River, a tributary of the Rhône. For almost 900 years it was fought over by a succession of barbarians, Saracens, knights, and others. By the 13th century the first university was founded and it finally became a peaceful centre for the Arts
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location of Aix Its to the north of Marseille, so strictly speaking, its...
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fountain at ''la rotonde'' Just as every city has a central reference point, in Aix it is this...
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closeup The statuary is magnificent. Note the plane trees in the background: in...
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at night The three statues at the top represent Aixs three main...
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the traditional carrousel As mentioned in earlier articles, every town in southern France seems...
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Market Square This view shows the Town Hall on the left, and the old clock tower (1510)....
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This 1755 fountain ...
surmounted by a Roman column, stands in the Market Square.
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the plaque ,,,
dedicating the fountain and column to Louis XV.
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City Hall Built in the middle of the 17th century, it is a beautiful example of that...
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The variety ...
of local produce in February is impressive. The market operates...
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the flower market
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a farmer's van I couldnt resist photographing this battered old Citroën van. I...
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heading through ... ... the clock tower, which contains an astronomical clock dating from 1661.
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on the other side You can see the Cathedral's tower in the background.
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front view ...
of the Cathédrale du Saint Sauveur (Holy Saviour...
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a Cézanne commemorative plaque This is just one of dozens. The local artist Paul Cézanne is...
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the cathedral's facade The square in front of the cathedral is fairly large, but even with a...
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a closer look The intricate stone carving reminds me somewhat of the plateresque and...
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main entrance adornments These represent four prophets and twelve sibyls, in Renaissance style.
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one of the great ...
stained glass windows
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another window
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the Great (central) nave It was built between 1285 and 1290, in Gothic style.
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smaller right side nave It is mainly Romanesque in style, dating from the 12th century.
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a side altar ...
at the front of the right side nave
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another side altar ...
at the front of the 1695 left side (baroque) nave
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