Aug 30 thru Sept 1 - From the yatch filled-harbors and beach sunbathers of the Mediterrean to the herb-scented hills of Provençal town of Aix. Aix was the inspiration to many of the greatest writers and painters: Van Gogh, Picasso, Guigou, Stendhal, Mistral, Zola, and Cézanne. Picasso spend his final years here. Painter Paul Cézanne, pioneer of modern painting, was born here and spent almost all his life there. His most famous paintings are those of "La Sainte Victoire", an impressive white limestone mountain of 1011m high. It is the major landmark of the Aix-en-Provence area and one of Cézanne's favourite motifs.

Aix-en-Provence is the city of art, and a city of light and activity. Aix is also the home of art schools and several universities. Aix is also ancient: a Celtic-Ligurian capital from the 3rd century BC was pushed aside for the founding of Aix in 122 BC, as Aquae Sextiae - “Sextius Waters”. For pronunciation, you pronounce the "x", so Aix sounds like aches, as in aches and pains.

Cours Mirabeau is the center and the heart of Aix. It is a beautiful tree-lined avenue, with one side lined with wonderful terrace cafés and bookshops. 

City of Fountains. Aix-en-Provence is called the "city of fountains". Everywhere, throughout the town, fountains big and small bubble and spray and splash. The Great Fountain (1860) at La Rotonde in the Place Général de Gaulle at the bottom end of the "cours", spraying up into the sunlight. The Fountain of 9 Cannons (1691), half way up, bubbles away in the shade. Another block up the "cours" is the moss-covered hot-water fountain dating back to 1734, although the 35°C (93°F) spring has been enjoyed for its healing properties for 2000 years. King René's Fountain, at the top of the "cours" was built in the 19th century; the statue is of Roi René holding a bunch of Muscat grapes, which the good king introduced into Provence. The lovely Fontaine des Quatre Dauphins at the Place des Quatre Dauphins, in the Mazarin district, was built in 1667 by Jean-Claude Rambot.