Doors of Aix en Provence

Pierre and I left the girls with Mémé and Pépé and jumped on the high speed train to Aix en Provence.  We are so grateful that they are willing and able to do this.  The girls were pretty happy, too!  The high speed train makes it a quick trip.  We took a shuttle from the train station into town and started exploring.  It was New Year's Day, so most things were closed.

Aix was founded in 123 BC by the Roman consul Sextius Calvinus.  In the 4th century AD it became the metropolis of Narbonensis Secunda. It was occupied by the Visigoths in 477. In the succeeding century, the town was repeatedly plundered by the Franks and Lombards, and was occupied by the Saracens in 731 and by Charles Martel in 737. Aix, which during the Middle Ages was the capital of Provence, did not reach its zenith until after the 12th century, when, under the houses of Barcelona/Aragon and Anjou, it became an artistic centre and seat of learning.

Aix passed to the crown of France with the rest of Provence in 1487, and in 1501 Louis XII established there the parliament of Provence, which existed until 1789.

 Aix is known for its historic wooden doors.  It claims Cezanne and Emile Zola as its own--Axois.