Aix en Provence France | The City of 1000 Fountains

Welcome to our tour of Aix-en-Provence!

Aix-en-Provence in Southern France is a charming little city that is just a short drive away from the beaches of the Côte d’Azur. It received its name from a thermal spring and it was founded as Aquae Sextiae by Sextius Calvinus in 122BC. This means that Aix-en-Provence is packed with history. With more than 300 sunny days each year it’s the perfect place for romantic and holiday vacations where visitors can enjoy its facades, cobblestone streets and thermal springs.

Often called Aix by locals, this city is one of the most appealing destinations in the South of France. Known as is the city of a thousand fountains, it has a backdrop of breathtaking mountains and countryside, and is home to some fantastic gastronomy.

Thanks to its compact centre, this is a city that’s easily explored on foot. We recommend you first visit the main thoroughfare, Cours Mirabeau, a street lined with cafés, restaurants and elegant houses, all shaded by rows of centuries-old trees.

Here, on Cours Mirabeau, you will get to see three of the city’s more notable fountains. The first one is a 19th-century work depicting King René holding the Muscat grapes he introduced to Provence in the 15th century. The second is a natural hot spring covered in moss, dating back to Roman times and the last one is a 1860 La Rotonde, beneath three giant statues representing art, justice and agriculture. However, the most spectacular fountain of all is the 17th-century Fontaine des Quatre Dauphins (Fountain of the Four Dolphins) in the Quartier Mazarin.