A few words about Aix-en-Provence

A small town just 30 kilometers from Marseille, Aix-en-Provence is an embodiment of the charm of southern France: lively, colourful, and inviting. Its climate is mild and warm, with 300 days of sunshine a year. It is praised as the city of water and art.

The Roman consul Sextius Calvinus was attracted by the place's thermal springs and founded the city, giving it his name: Aquae Sextiae, in 132 B.C. It was the scene of a famous battle in 102 B.C. in which the Romans under Gaius Marius defeated two Germanic tribes, the Cimbri and the Teutones. As the Roman Empire crumbled, Aquae Sextiae was occupied by the Visigoths in 477, suffered from Frankish and Longobard raids, and was captured by the Saracens in 731. During the Middle Ages it was the capital of Provence, reaching its zenith in the 12th century when it became a major center of arts and learning.

To absorb the atmosphere of Aix, take a walk along Cours Mirabeau, the landmark of the city, lined with shady sidewalk cafes and bookshops. It is a lovely wide avenue with large plane-trees, fine old houses and fountains. Cours Mirabeau actually follows the line of the one-time city wall, dividing old and new town. (The medieval city was protected by a wall with as many as 39 towers. A single tower, Tourreluquo, has survived to date.) La Rotonde at the street's end is the largest of the fountains, with a roundabout, and beautifully lit at night.

The Cathedral of the Savior (Cathédrale Saint Sauveur), built between the 11th and the 13th century, lies in the old town. According to the legend, it stands over an earlier temple of Apollo. It has a rich Gothic portal with finely carved doors, and an unfinished tower. Inside, you can see a 4th-century baptism pool, a 16th-century tapestry, a fine triptych depicting the burning bush, and other works of art. The Cathedral forms a complex with the adjacent Archbishop's Palace and a Romanesque cloister. The Archbishop's Palace contains a Tapestry Museum. Each July, it is the venue of a major opera festival accompanied by master classes for young musicians. The cloister is a serene and elegant 12th-century building, the pillars of its galleries decorated with animal and plant shapes.

The Town Hall (Hôtel de Ville), a 17th-century building in Classical style overlooking a picturesque little square, is flanked by a nice clock-tower and contains a rich library with valuable manuscripts, and fine woodworking. The building was designed by Pierre Pavillon. Next to it rises the richly decorated 18th-century Corn Exchange.

Between these two highlights of the old town is a maze of small winding streets, a busy shopping area packed with galleries, cafes and boutiques. You can admire the architecture of stately 17th- and 18th-century mansions.

The Priory of the Knights of Malta contains the Granet museum, consisting of an archeological section and a rich collection of paintings by French, Dutch, Flemish and Italian artists from the 16th to the 20th century. The museum contains eight paintings by postimpressionist painter Paul Cezanne who was born and lived in Aix. He developed a lifelong love for the Provencal landscape, even though he later left for Paris with his close friend Emile Zola who also spent his childhood years in Aix. Cezanne's studio in Aix is also open for visitors.

They call Aix the city of a thousand fountains. The most beautiful include the Four Dolphins by Jean-Claude Rambot, the Roi Rene fountain and the moss-covered hot water fountain.

You can visit the remains of the Sextius baths and the nearby modern baths utilizing the curative hot springs.