France: Aix-en-Provence

Aix-en-Provence is the capital of Provence, and a laid back town with beautiful architecture and hundreds of outdoor cafes and restaurants, tree-lined streets and beautiful squares. Aix is known for its fountains and is often called the “City of a Thousand Fountains.” There are supposedly over a thousand of them scattered around. While not large and overpowering like in other places, these fountains are overgrown with moss and are truly beautiful. The town’s architecture is also famous and hasn’t changed much from the 17th century. The city boasts two historic areas: Vieil Aix and the Mazarin quarter.