Founded in 122 before Christ, Aix-en-Provence is the capital of the area of Provence. It's name evokes olive trees, a drink of pastis, a game of pétanque, cricket chirping, the Mistral wind blowing, Emile Zola and Paul Cézanne. This spa town is renown for its rich cultural heritage, and hosts every year the International Festival of Lyrical Arts. The city’s university was created in 1409 and has become one of the most prestigious universities in France. The climate is also very pleasant year-round; warm and dry during summer and sunny and mild during winter.Aix-en-Provence is an elegant city with a unique light, which will guide you through its cobbled streets and animated squares. It is this light that attracted many impressionists painters such as Cézanne, Renoir, Pissarro and Manet to Provence.