Thermes romains d'Aix-en-Provence

The Roman thermal baths of Aix-en-Provence consist of a vaulted pool with side benches and ancient stone walls that formed a public bathing complex. The remains reveal the layout of different bathing spaces and the engineering used to manage water flow from natural hot springs.

A Roman consul established these baths around 123 BCE by tapping into natural hot springs located deep underground. The facility continued to serve the city's population for several centuries as a key bathing complex.

The baths served as a major social hub where residents gathered and spent time together on a daily basis. It demonstrates how central thermal facilities were to Roman daily routines and community life.

The site is easily accessible on foot and located in the city center. Visit early in the day when sunlight illuminates the stone structures and archaeological features more clearly.

Excavations in 1704 uncovered stone inscriptions that confirmed the existence of this ancient public bathhouse. These carved messages often included names and religious symbols that reveal details about who used the baths and what they valued.