Aix-en-Provence, or Aix for short, is an elegant city in the south of France, second only to Paris in the number of historical sights. It was founded in the 5th century, but it reached its heyday in the 15th century during the reign of the Good King René. He was an enlightened and gifted ruler who surrounded himself with talented people: writers, artists, architects, encouraging them for their work in the interests of the country.

Today Aix is a cozy student city that many tourists enjoy visiting during their travels.

One of the main attractions of the city is the famous Cours Mirabeau thoroughfare, which the locals compare to the Champs Elysees. This luxurious boulevard, 440 meters long and more than 40 meters wide, appeared in the city in 1649 upon the spot of the former city fortress. They immediately planted it with elms. At first, they called it Cour ( which translates as “courtyard”), but at the end of the 19th century, the boulevard was named after the famous countryman, one of the fathers of the great French Revolution, Honoré Gabriel Riqueti, Count of Mirabeau. When the elms died of an unknown disease, sycamores were planted in their place, which, in a hundred years, turned into giant branchy trees, creating a pleasant shade to walk under in the heat. Previously, only the bourgeoisie could walk here. Under the shadow of the sycamores, representatives of the academy, bishopric, courts, and other noble citizens met and bowed to each other. Now everyone can walk along the aristocratic street.

Besides, the Cours Mirabeau boulevard is famous for its fountains. The most distinguished of them is the Rotunda fountain built in 1860. Being 32 meters wide, it includes three marble statues surrounded by stone swans, dolphins, and lions. It may come as a surprise to you, but the construction of so many fountains in Aix was driven by a dire necessity – the lack of clean drinking water during the plague epidemic.

The boulevard is decorated with exquisite 17th-18th century mansions built in the Italian Baroque style. Here, you can also see several expensive boutiques and gift shops, luxury hotels, and restaurants.