Founded in 123 BC by the Romans, Aix-en-Provence draws its origin, its name and, to an extent, its reputation, from its thermal springs. (Even to this day, the city boasts no fewer than 23 fountains.)

Aix began as the capital of Provence under the successive rule of the Celts, the Romans, the counts and the monarchs, until 1790, when it became merely the chief town of the area.

Today one can spend days walking the twisted cobblestone side streets or exploring the numerous mansion-lined squares, and admiring the superb architecture, the legacy of the wealthy merchants and local dignitaries who helped turn this city into the ’Florence of Provence’ in the 17th and 18th centuries.

This big student town is still home to many universities and is a centre for the arts, with numerous festivals taking place in Aix-en-Provence all year long, the most famous of which is undoubtedly the International Festival of Lyrical Art and Music.

With the now famous Montagne Ste Victoire as a backdrop, Aix is surrounded by beautiful scenery, which has inspired many artists and intellectuals, among them Paul Cézanne. In 2006, the city is marking the death of its most famous son, Paul Cézanne (1839-1906), with many special events, so there is no better time to visit.