Aix-en-Provence

Aix-en-Provence (pop. 124,800), city in southern France, in the department of Bouches-du-Rhône, about 20 mi (32 km) north of Marseilles. As the Roman settlement Aquae Sextiae, it was colonized by the proconsul C. Sextius Calvinus in 123 B.C. Known from antiquity for its mineral baths, in medieval times Aix became the capital of the region of Provence, as well as a famous literary center. In 1536 it was the temporary residence of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. Present-day industries include the production of olive oil, food processing, the manufacture of textiles, and the milling of flour.