Audio Guide: Aix-en-Provence Introduction Walking Tour (Self Guided), Aix-en-Provence

Aix-en-Provence may not have coastal views, but it compensates in style with its Roman bathwater and city logistics. Founded in 123 BC by Roman consul Gaius Sextius Calvinus, this southern French settlement-originally named Aquae Sextiae, which means “Waters of Sextius”-was built around its thermal springs and the promise of a good soak. Centuries later, the name was streamlined to “Aix”, the Romans were out, but the waters remained, and Aix was on its way to becoming the cultural capital of Provence.

By the Middle Ages, Aix had swapped statues for scholars and took center stage under the Houses of Aragon and Anjou. It became a court city, an administrative hub, and a magnet for artists and legal minds. In 1487, the city officially joined France, and the following centuries brought layers of architectural ambition: Gothic churches, Baroque fountains, and 17th-century boulevards, all woven through the narrow medieval lanes of the old town. Aix Cathedral-built on the site of the former Roman temple-reflects that long history in one eclectic structure of Romanesque arches, Gothic vaults, and a Baroque façade that stops short of picking a favorite style.

Step into modern Aix and you'll still see the past elbowing its way in. The Fountain of the Rotunda, a 19th-century centerpiece with its trio of allegorical figures, lions, and dolphins, anchors one end of Mirabeau Boulevard. The other end leads you toward the statue of Paul Cézanne, Aix’s most famous son. His life and legacy ripple through the city, especially along the self-guided Paul Cézanne walk, which links his childhood home, studios, and favorite painting spots. The Granet Museum adds context, housing works by Cézanne, Ingres, and others in a former priory just a short walk from the Mazarin District.

The Mazarin District, laid out in the 17th century by Cardinal Mazarin’s team, is a refined grid of mansions and quiet lanes, home to the much-photographed Fountain of the Four Dolphins. Nearby, the Church of Saint John-the oldest Gothic church in Provence-stands opposite the Granet. North of Mirabeau, the old town offers the 17th-century clock tower on Town Hall Square, the harmonious façades of Albertas Square, and Italy Street, once part of the Roman road system.

Aix’s cultural life is just as layered. The Festival of Lyric Art brings opera to the Grand Theater of Provence each summer, while Music in the Street turns plazas and alleys into stages every June.

You won’t find the sea here, but Aix doesn’t chase that kind of approval. Its fountains speak for its Roman past, its buildings track five centuries of power and taste, and its cultural calendar keeps the rhythm going. Cézanne missed it when he was away. You probably will too.