Fréjus.—The Roman Forum Julii. The Roman remains consist of—(1) The amphitheatre; (2) the walls, with three gateways; (3) the aqueduct; (4) the remains of the harbour; (5) the baths; (6) the theatre; (7) the two citadels. The cathedral is an interesting Romanesque building, with fine choir-stalls, cloisters, and a baptistery containing eight Roman columns.
St. Raphaël.—A small village, with a new quarter on the shore, with large hotels lately added.
The Corniche d’Or.—The new road along the coast of the Estérels, recently built by the Touring Club de France; lovely scenery all the way.
Théoule.—A small resort on the Corniche d’Or, with hotels and villas.
La Napoule.—A small place on the flat plain west of Cannes, where the well-known golf-links are situated.
Although Aix has retained no structures of the Roman period, it was the oldest of the colonies, having been founded by the Consul Sextius Calvinus, about 120 B.C., at the hot springs still in existence. The place was therefore called Aquæ Sextiæ, after the discoverer of the thermal waters, and is now contracted into Aix. The threatened invasion of Italy by the Teutones and Ambrones was utterly defeated by Marius, a few miles east of the city, in 102 B.C.; but Aix at the fall of Rome fell a prey to the barbarians of the north, recovering slowly, and eventually becoming the capital of Provence. Under the good King Réné of Anjou, who died in 1480, Aix was exceedingly prosperous. His statue by David can be seen in the Cours Mirabeau.
Town Plan No. 23.—Aix-en-Provence.
The Cathedral of St. Sauveur dates from Romanesque times, with a chancel built in 1285. The tower and façade are fifteenth century—a little earlier than the highly enriched portal, with its lovely doors ornamented with sixteen figures in niches, which dates from 1503.
In the baptistery are eight monolithic columns—probably from the Temple of Apollo, that stood on the same spot—sculptured panels by Puget, and two triptychs, on one of which King Réné is depicted on his knees.