en.infoglobe.cz » France, French Riviera VI: Aix-en-Provence – French South’s First-Class City – VIDEO
France, French Riviera VI: Aix-en-Provence – French South’s First-Class City – VIDEO
Published: 27.10.2021
„When they want to get rid of them, rich Parisians send their children here to study at the university. So, it is expensive here but the life is vibrant,“ says Louis about his home-town, a guy I met during my stay there. Indeed, for a long time I haven’t been to a place that would have so much of student atmosphere yet it wasn’t flooded with “poor” hipster cafes. Add more than two thousand years of history, narrow streets with old houses made of sandstone and friendly inhabitants of Provence. This makes almost perfect image of one of the most famous towns in the south of France.
„Since time immemorial, many writers, painters, musicians, architects, and scholars have lived here. You can see evidence everywhere. Students coming from Paris bring the newest fashoin trends. Sometimes you feel like at Champs-Élysées. Moreover, countless great restaurants and cafes can prosper here. This lures in many other tourist from all around the world,” Louis explains. „Just when you go out at the night, it will cost you. I know that France is expensive pretty much everywhere but here even wine is expensive. And that’s something,” he continues.
Cours Mirabeau is a wide street with a platan tree alley which splits the town into two parts. The southern and western end are quite new. In the north there is the old part with narrow streets and even 500 years old houses. There are the most of town’s historical sights.
The most well-known is St Salvador cathedral, or Aix cathedral for short. It is built upon a 5th century Roman basilica which had been extended until the 17th century. Hence, Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque features are to be seen inside and outside. For instance, the significant rich decorated Gothic portal with doors of carved wood. A Romanesque cloister and an archbishop’s residence are in cathedral’s proximity.
If you want only to wander around the streets you will find interesting churches. There are dozens in Aix. See the famous plaza Place de l'Hôtel-de-Ville. There is the 17th luxurious hotel of the same name. Nearby there are thermal springs and spa. Thanks to this originally Roman settlement was founded.
South from Cours Mirabeau you can find a residential neighborhood of Mazarin. In the 17th century, Archbishop Michele Mazzarino built it. There are many opulent houses and also 13th century Saint-Jean-de-Malte church. Inside are precious paintings.
Aix is told to be the town of thousand fountains. As Louis tells me, this is very true: „Once I attempted to count all Aix fountains. I realized it was impossible. There is not a thousand of them but enough of them to get lost soon. Rather, I observed all kinds of detail and realized how different they are even though they all seem the same. Each one has a soul of its own.”
Perhaps the most beautiful thing about the town are three fountains on Cours Mirabeau. The one on its upper part was made in the 19th century and it honors King René. It was him who brought geranium grapes to Provence. In the middle, there is a mysterious, moss-covered fountain probably made by the Romans. Water there has 34°C. The roundabout down in the town center has a fountain made in 1860 which makes it look much better. The fountain celebrates art, local court that is very influential, agriculture, and wine growers of Provence, of course.
In case you want to learn something at some museum, Aix has couple of to go to. The first one we would like to mention is Museé Granet. It displays the works of (not necessarily) local artists. Perhaps the most famous is the post-Impressionist Paul Cézanne. He was born, painted and died in Aix-en-Provence. Also, you can see there Jean Planque collection, a Swiss-born painter and art collector. There are paintings and drawings by giants such as Monet, Renoir, Degas, Gauguin, Picasso or Van Gogh.
In Aix’s northern suburb, there is the private Paul Cézanne Museum. You can see his atelier there. It has remained almost unchanged since the time of his death. Also, you can visit the History of Aix Museum, or the Natural History Museum, or even the Museum of Pottery.
„St Victoria mountain is the most beautiful thing about Aix (Montagne Sainte-Victoire) which is close to the town. It raises steeply to more than 1000 meters. When Cézanne came there to pain he exactly knew why he did it. A bus rides there from the center. Then it is really close,” concludes Louis.
TGV trains connect Aix-en-Provence directly with Paris or from Nice airport. You can travel through the other airport on the middle road between Aix and Marseille, which is 30 kilometers away. But it is not that easy-to-get-to as in Nice.
Corsica belongs to unnumerous line of Mediterranean islands which is took out from standard level with its atmosphere, architecture as well as excellent delicacies.
On this day, we take a look almost to Spain for we visit Biarritz, a seaside resort situated near the borders with Spain in the Bay of Biscai. This legendary and quiant resort used to be a small fishing village. In the 19th century, this area became sought after by French higher classes. Empress Eugenia, the wife of Napoleon III, ordered to build a grandiose palace here. Now it is a hotel with a Michelin-grade restaurant.
Cannes is a city located on the shiny French Riviera and you are sure to know it for the famous film festival, which takes place here every year in May, since 1946. The festival is currently Europe's largest film festival, which also serves as a great promotion of European film art. .
I intended to make a trip somewhere. So I surfed on the internet to find out about my options. After while I made the decision. Paris! This trip would be short but the program would be interesting.
This Friday we are headed to another famous French resort. This time on the French Riviera. The region is rich on sunny days and sand beaches. However, this place is not just beaches, swimming or celebrities frequenting this place. Yet tourism is only a part of what supports its economy – local economy also thrives from flower production (mostly roses and carnations). There are many interesting sights in the city and around to explore. Today, we are going to take a closer look.
France’s second most visited city is situated in country’s south, in the region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, near the Italian border. Millions of tourists travel here to see the famous Côte d'Azur, enjoy beautiful weather, and great French wine. The place gained fame in the 18th century. Rich English families took shelter here from winter at home. The whole town has fantastic atmosphere. Join us in for a tour!
Perhaps you wonder why we include the tiny state of Monaco to our series on France. Yet while travelling along the French Riviera you can hardly miss it. Casino, luxurious yachts and hotels, Formula 1, and tax paradise. These are common stereotypes about world’s second smallest country. And they are true. It is a country with second highest population density in the world. Monaco is a princedom with the highest GDP and highest percentage of millionaires in the population. However, the crowds flow to Monaco mostly during the famous Grand Prix. We think any season would be the best to visit the country.
Despite long lines we haven’t regret 2-hour waiting to enter one of the most beautiful palaces in the world – Versailles. You have to hold on. The palace will reward you with its glorious interior, exterior, and gardens that are an irreplaceable part of it.
In the morning, after eating from hotel breakfast, we went to see outskirts of Paris - the suburbs, which bears the same name as the name of the famous castle complex of Versailles. Exploring this former residence of the King required a great deal of patience and fitness. You ask why? The answer can be found in the following lines.
The famous movie Troops from Saint-Tropez still helps to bring hundreds of thousands visitors to the beautiful town on the Cote d’Azur. Louis de Funès and typical French humor fit perfectly to local environment and thus became one of the most well-known French movie ever. Saint Tropez deserves it. In my opinion, it is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.
Saint-Tropez is undoubtedly the most beautiful town along the French Riviera. So many visitors come there during the high season you don’t have a chance to properly enjoy it. Yet we offer you an alternative, two towns located near Saint-Tropez. Fréjus and Saint-Raphaël are two town between Cannes and Toulonem. They are not less enjoyable than the said Saint-Tropez. Moreover, they unravel much from the history as interesting sights form the Roman times are still there.
Last week we had visited town-hall and moved also to Center Pompidou, a center of modern art. Today we will look around this building build inside-out. The building is named after French President Pompidou, who initiated its construction.
We will continue in our journey in Paris. We will choose a tempo of learning on history and we will also talk on beauties of nature. There are many natural wonders in Paris. Perhaps the most beautiful ones we trie to find in beautiful parks and gardens.
After a brief introduction of Paris last time we move to exact places. Our trip begins in the Latin Quarter. We walk through two beautiful boulevards and visit perhaps the most known tomb in the world.
Old maritime and fishermen tradition, delicious vine, friendly French, beautiful weather, blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea… All of this lure in millions to rest from worries while getting some of the southern energy. The French Riviera is not the cheapest area in Europe yet it is worth it. You wont be disappointed.
Immediately after seeing the Luxembourg Gardens we headed to the world famous Sorbonna University. Cardinal Richelieu himself took care of its development. for he financed its reconstruction, and he transformed once college for poor students to an important hub of education.
Our Sunday schedule seems great. Upon the breakfast we leave the hotel, give a ride to some tourists to Paris for their individual schedule, and then head to Giverna. The town is known for the fact that Claude Monet once worked there. It is charming, especially on a sunny day.
Today, our new series about one of the most beautiful, most popular, most visited cities of the world begins. Yes, it is the French capita, Paris. Together we will go on a journey of the most interesting places and we will learn about their secrets.
In last week’s article we took a look on greenery in Paris. Today we will visit one of these green oases where the famous Notre Dame cathedral is located.
In today's part of our journey through the Paris visit one of the largest, most beautiful and most visited monuments in the city. Yes, it's Notre Dame on the island Cité. Gimped many stories for centuries dominated this city and encourages the writer and not only is the rotation of the mysterious stories with inimitable French sophistication.
Today, the sixth part of our series about Paris we continue from Notre Dame cathedral to the town hall. From there our steps continue to one of the most controversial buildings in the city. Parisans either love it or hate it.
Last week we had visited town-hall and moved also to Center Pompidou, a center of modern art. Today we will look around this building build inside-out. The building is named after French President Pompidou, who initiated its construction.
Rue de Rivoli, a busy street left us with several interesting experiences. Touch of history represented by the St Jacob’s tower or beautiful architecture of an Art Deco shopping mall. Full of energy we headed to the streets of Paris full of sights, this time we visited the church of Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois.
The royal tour we wrote about last week was a beautiful end of the day. Tired, yet full of impressions we got back to the hotel. After a really tight sleep we woke up to new day in Paris. Again, we are ready for trips to learn about new places in this city.
We will continue in our tour de Paris even today. This time we go and admire the beauty of the city from the perspective on the river. The Seine has an inseparable role in lives of Parisians. It has also been a theatre to many historical milestones. The Seine is the pearl of Paris.
After a tour in Versailles Palace we moved to the other world with high buildings reaching sky, with materials and design resembling future of humanity known in sci-fi movies.
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