A stroll through Aix-en-Provence city centre

The Cours Mirabeau is Aix-en-Provence's best-known thoroughfare. No need to look for it, you won't be able to miss it! Wide and tree-lined, it was built in the 17th century to allow carriages to drive through the city. Today, it is lined with restaurants, small Provencal shops andmansions, the oldest of which was built at the same time as the Cours itself.

On Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings, the town's big market takes place on the Cours Mirabeau, providing an opportunity to discover the region's culinary specialities and crafts. Down the road, the impressive Rotonde fountain marks the entrance to the historic centre.

The elegant streets of the old town of Aix-en-Provence are exactly what you'd expect of a picturesque Provencal village. The town has a population of almost 150,000, but that doesn't detract from its authentic charm. Cobbled, narrow, winding and bustling, the streets of the historic centre take visitors on a journey back in time.

The buildings and monuments trace the city's history, some dating back to the Middle Ages. The atmosphere that reigns in this maze of baroque architecture is unlike anywhere else. Small cafés, local restaurants and shops selling clothes and souvenirs invite visitors to linger and enjoy the warmth of the south.

You are now in a pretty tree-lined square dating back to the 14th century. To get there, you pass under the Clock Tower, the old gateway to the town of Saint-Sauveur. At its foot, the Town Hall, with its architecture inspired by Italian Renaissance palaces, was once richly decorated with statues of angels, busts of the Counts of Provence and monograms of the King. These were stolen during the French Revolution, but the building has lost none of its former splendour.

Today, the Place de l'Hôtel de Ville attracts visitors for its cafés and restaurants and for the friendly flower market held there three times a week.

The Place des Prêcheurs was the centre of public and social life before the inauguration of the Cours Mirabeau. It takes its name from the former Prêcheurs convent, which had stood there since the 13th century. Nearly 400 years later, it was decided to build a church on its site: the Eglise de la Madeleine. Its façade remained unfinished for almost a century before receiving a monumental veneer that made it one of the most beautiful churches in the Bouches-du-Rhône region.

Both a place of worship and a museum, visitors can admire many works by local artists. Paul Cézanne was baptised in the Madeleine church.

It's probably not lost on you as you wander around the old town: Aix-en-Provence has lots and lots of fountains. In all, there are more than 130 fountains echoing throughout the city. Some are very impressive, like the Rotonde fountain with its 32-metre diameter basin, while others are more discreet and unremarkable.

The ancient name of Aix-en-Provence, Aquae Sextiae - the waters of Sextius in French - reminds us that water has always been an integral part of the history of the ancient capital of Provence. The city has always been fed by hot and cold springs, which enabled the Romans to develop it by building aqueducts, thermal baths and fountains.

When the sun starts to set, the mildness of the Aix climate invites you to stay outside and enjoy the terraces and the friendly atmosphere. For dinner, head for the Place des Cardeurs, which is bursting with Provençal restaurants. And if you don't feel like going to bed just yet and want to continue the evening, you'll be spoilt for choice!

The narrow streets of the old town are littered with bars and pubs that come alive as soon as the sun goes down. Party-goers often follow this up with a visit to one of the town's ten discotheques. For something a little quieter, Aix-en-Provence's casino, three cinemas and numerous theatres, concert halls and café-theatres will fulfil your expectations.