People say Aix-en-Provence is the ‘city of art, city of water’. The second part of this adage refers to the presence of the numerous fountains that dot the historic centre. Among the most beautiful has to be the Quatre-Dauphins (Four Dolphins), situated in the middle of the square of the same name. Sculpted by Jean-Claude Rambot in 1667, this fountain has been listed as a historic monument since 1929. If you want to pass for a local as you stroll around the majestic sea creatures, adopt a know-it-all tone and speak of it as the ‘Three Dolphins’. It seems the Aixois have renamed the fountain due to the optical illusion it creates: no matter where you stand, you can never see more than three dolphins at once.
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