Aix-en-Provence - History, Main sights, Education, Festival d'Aix-en-Provence, Museums, Economy

43°31N 5°27E, pop (2000e) 130 000. Ancient city in Bouches-du-Rhône department, SE France; 30 km/19 mi N of Marseille in a fertile plain surrounded by mountains; founded as Aquae Sextiae in 123 BC; important centre for Provençal literature since the 15th-c; airport; railway; university (1409); olive oil, fruit, almond processing; many fountains; archbishopric; 11th–16th-c St Saver Cathedral, Baroque town hall (1658), art galleries, thermal springs, casino; home of Cézanne; International Music Festival (Jul–Aug); Saison d'Aix (Jun–Sep).

Commune of Aix-en-Provence
Street in Aix-en-Provence
Location
Coordinates	43°31′53″N, 05°25′24″E
Administration
Country	France
Région	Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Département	Bouches-du-Rhône (sous-préfecture)
Arrondissement	Aix-en-Provence
Canton	Chief town of 3 cantons
Intercommunality	Communauté d'agglomération du Pays d'Aix
Mayor	Maryse Joissains-Masini  (UMP) (2001 - 2008)
Statistics
Land area¹	186.08 km²
Population² (1999)	134,222
- Density (1999)	721/km²
Miscellaneous
INSEE/Postal code	13001/ 13100 or 13090
¹ French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers >
² Population sans doubles comptes: single count of residents of multiple communes (e.g.

Aix (IPA: [ɛks]), or, to distinguish it from other cities built over hot springs, Aix-en-Provence (Provençal Occitan: Ais de Provença in classical norm or Ais de Prouvènço in Mistralian norm) is a city in southern France, some 30 km north of Marseille. Aix' population is approximately 137,000.

History

Aix (Aquae Sextiae) was founded in 122 BC by the Roman consul Sextius Calvinus, who gave his name to its springs.

Main sights

The Cours Mirabeau, a wide thoroughfare, planted with double rows of plane-trees, bordered by fine houses and decorated by fountains, divides the town into two portions.

The Cathedral of the Holy Saviour (Cathédrale Saint Sauveur), which dates from the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries, is situated in this portion of Aix.

The hôtel de ville, a building in the classical style of the middle of the 17th century, looks on to a picturesque square (Place de la Mairie).

Also on the Place de la Mairie is the former Corn Exchange (Halle de Grains).

The town, which is the seat of an archbishop and court of appeal, and the centre of an académie (educational circumscription), numbers among its public institutions a Court of assizes, tribunals of first instance and of commerce, and a chamber of arts and manufactures.

Aix is often referred to as the city of a thousand fountains.

Education

Aix is an important educational centre, hosting various faculties from:

Université de Provence Aix-Marseille I Université de la Méditerranée Aix-Marseille II Université Paul Cézanne Aix-Marseille III Institut d'études politiques d'Aix-en-Provence (IEP), an Institute of Political Studies a military academy École Nationale Supérieure d'Arts et Métiers Institut d'Etudes Françaises pour Etudiants Etrangers (IEFEE), a language school for foreign students of all levels of French proficiency Le lycée international d'Aix-en-Provence

Aix also has training-colleges, lycées, and a school of art and technics.

Festival d'Aix-en-Provence

Aix has an important opera festival, the 'Festival international d'Art Lyrique' founded in 1948 which now ranks with those in Bayreuth, Salzburg and Glyndebourne.

Museums

Aix has several museums and galleries:

Le Musée du Vieil Aix (Museum of Old Aix), which tells of the history and growth of the city. La Fondation Vasarely, museum dedicated to the Hungarian-born French Abstract Painter

Economy

Industries formerly included flour-milling, the manufacture of confectionery, iron-ware, hats, matches and the extraction of olive oil.

Births

Aix-en-Provence was the birthplace of:

Eleanor of Provence (died 1291), queen consort of King Henry III of England André Campra 1660-1744, composer and conductor François Marius Granet (1775-1849), painter Charles-Joseph-Eugene de Mazenod (1782-1861), Bishop of Marseille and Founder of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. Arnaud Clément (born 1977), professional tennis player, finalist at the Australian Open in 2001 Nicolas Nollet (born 1986), actor

Twin towns

Aix-en-Provence is twinned with:

Bath, United Kingdom Carthage, Tunisia Coimbra, Portugal Granada, Spain Perugia, Italy Tübingen, Germany Ashkelon, Israel Philadelphia, United States Baton Rouge, United States Chaoyang, People's Republic of China Foshan, People's Republic of China