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.