Aix was first an entrenched Roman camp in occupied Gaul. The Sextius Calvinus council decided in 123 BC that Aix would be a garrison town next to the hot mineral springs that had curative properties and were called Aquae Sextiae: Sextuis's waters.
Because of the Lombard and Saracen invasions during the 6th century, Aix hasn't kept any traces of Roman colonisation, contrary to several nearby towns such as Orange, Arles or Nîmes.

In 1189, Aix became the capital of the Counts of Provence resulting in an increase in its population. But the great plague epidemics of 1348 and 1361 struck the inhabitants of Aix: half the population died during that time.


The town regained its activity and wealth during the reign of "Good King René". René I (René the Good) was Duke of Anjou, King of Naples and Sicily and Count of Provence. Having been forced to give Naples to the Aragonese, he retired to Angers and then to Aix in 1471. There, he gathered around him a brilliant and cultured court and even devoted himself to writing. He composed essays on morality and collections of poems including the "Livre du cœur d'amour épris" ("The book of the enamoured heart"). He also worked at reforming his country's administration and economy and managed very well.During that same century, the town was enriched with many new buildings: the cathedral was finished and a square, in front of the Comtal palace was built.


King René died in 1480 and left his kingdom to Charles III of Maine but he too died only a year later bequeathing Provence to the King of France in his will.Consequently, Aix lost its status as capital of a sovereign province to become one of the provincial capitals of the Kingdom of France. Still, the town continued to enjoy its autonomy and privileges as Louis XII founded a parliament and a Revenue Court in Aix in 1501.



In 1651, one of Aix's main roads was opened; the "cours Mirabeau" (Mirabeau walk) which took its name from a revolutionary tribune of Aix. Built on the site of the former ramparts, the avenue harboured magnificent private mansions and many fountains as, one must not forget, Aix was originally a spa!


The town continued its development through the centuries, but lost its status of provincial capital during the French Revolution. The end of the revolutionary troubles marked the return of the development of Aix's academic, judicial and cultural vocations. During the 19th century, the faculties of Law (1806), and Arts (1846), the Ecole Normale - teachers' training college - and the Ecole Nationale des Arts et Métiers - engineering school - (both 1843) were founded and the Law Court was finished in 1831.


Not far from Aix, in the country, one can see Sainte Victoire mountain which was one of the Aix painter, Paul Cézanne's, subjects. In school, the painter-to-be made friends with a young boy who was also to become an outstanding character of French culture; Emile Zola. Both dreamt of leaving the conformist and God-fearing small town they thought Aix was, to stand out in Paris. Zola was successful during his life but Cézanne was only institutionally recognised after his death. For instance, the curator of the Aix museum had sworn never to hang a single of Cézanne's paintings on the picture rails of his museum as long as he lived. He never went against his word and all their lives, their resentment against the town united the two artists.

A gateway website about Aix : a presentation of the town, many links, its history, heritage, accommodation, leisure and Cézanne workshops.