Editing Aix-en-Provence (section)

==Economy==
[[File:Calisson.jpg|thumb|[[Calisson]]s, a specialty of Aix-en-Provence]]
Industries formerly included flour-milling, the manufacture of confectionery, iron-ware, hats, matches and the extraction of [[olive oil]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Histoire d'Aix-en-Provence|publisher=Edisud|year=1977|isbn=2-85744-237-8}}</ref>

Current economic activities include:
* Tourism.
* Entertainment, particularly opera and dance.
* The [[semiconductor]] and [[electronics]] industry in [[Rousset, Bouches-du-Rhône|Rousset]], to the south of [[Montagne Sainte-Victoire|Mont Ste.-Victoire]], specializing in [[Integrated circuit|microchip]] technology for [[credit card]]s.
* Education and research. In Aix the [[University of Aix-Marseille]] specializes in the [[humanities]], law and economics.
* The computer software industry.
* The manufacture of [[santons]], traditional hand-crafted figurines, often associated with [[provence|provencal]] Christmas [[Nativity scene|creches]].
* The manufacture of [[olive oil]].
* The manufacture of ''[[calisson]]s'', a lozenge-shaped [[confection]] made from [[almond]]s, orange peel, sugar, and crystallized melon.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/02/26/travel/fare-of-the-country-provence-s-almond-calissons.html|title=Fare of the Country; Provence's Almond Calissons|last=Beckett-Young|first=Kathleen|date=26 February 1989|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=2019-11-24|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Each year in early September, there is a mass in French and Provençal in the [[medieval]] church of St Jean de Malte to bless the calissons – '' la bénédiction des calissons''. This ceremony has been held since the 17th century to mark the deliverance of Aix from the [[Bubonic plague|plague]]. It is currently accompanied by a colourful [[provence|provencal]] [[procession|pageant]], involving most of the local calisson manufacturers and their wares. About calissons, Provençal novelist [[Marcel Pagnol]] wrote that, to make true calissons "'''You need one-third almonds, one-third fruit confits, one-third sugar, and a quarter savoir faire''.<nowiki>''</nowiki><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-38005875|title=France battles China over sweets trademark|date=16 November 2016|access-date=2019-11-24|language=en-GB}}</ref>
* [[Viticulture]]: the local [[Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée]] is [[Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence AOC]], with many vineyards between Aix and the [[Durance|River Durance]] to the north. The reputed appellation of [[Palette AOC]] is represented by the estates of Château Simone in [[Meyreuil]] and Château Crémade in [[Le Tholonet]], to the east of Aix.<ref>
{{Cite book|first=Robert|last=Parker|author-link=Robert M. Parker, Jr.|year=1996|page=488|title=The Wine Buyer's Guide|publisher=Dorling Kindersley|isbn=0-7513-0342-9}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chateau-simone.fr/ |title=Official website for Château Simone |publisher=Chateau-simone.fr |access-date=15 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100410003611/http://www.chateau-simone.fr/ |archive-date=10 April 2010 |url-status=live |df=dmy }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.guidevins.com/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=320 |title=Guide des Vins – Château Crémade |language= fr |publisher=Guidevins.com |access-date=15 April 2010}}</ref> There is a fair of local wine producers every year on the last Sunday in July on the [[Cours Mirabeau]]. Grape varieties include [[grenache]], [[syrah]], [[cabernet sauvignon]], and notably [[vermentino]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://en.aixenprovencetourism.com/aix-vins.htm |title=Aix en Provence Office de Tourisme |access-date=19 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203173426/http://en.aixenprovencetourism.com/aix-vins.htm |archive-date=3 February 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

* Chocolate: the well known [[Chocolaterie]] de [[Puyricard]] is situated in the hills to the north of Aix.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.puyricard.fr/ |title=The Chocolaterie of Puyricard |publisher=Puyricard.fr |access-date=15 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100421144543/http://www.puyricard.fr/ |archive-date=21 April 2010 |url-status=live |df=dmy }}</ref>
* Saffron: The Safranière de Provence is an organic saffron producer situated near Aix-en-Provence.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://safranieredeprovence.com/ |title=Saffron of Provence |publisher=safranieredeprovence.com |access-date=19 October 2021}}</ref>

The airline [[Twin Jet]] has its head office in Aix-en-Provence.<ref>"[http://www.twinjet.fr/lggb/index.php The company: Company information]." [[Twin Jet]]. Retrieved on 8 July 2010. "Address : TWIN JET 1070 rue du lieutenant Parayre BP 30370 13799 AIX EN PROVENCE CEDEX 3 "</ref>

From 1990 to 2000, criminal organizations established complex [[extortion]] rings in [[Marseille]] extending to Aix-en-Provence and the greater [[French Riviera]]. Since 2002, ''Le Milieu'' is known for, in addition to its extortion rings, large [[counterfeit]]ing and [[White-collar crime|white-collar]] crime operations. Due to increased financial regulation, ''Le Milieu'' has collectively pushed to [[Money laundering|integrate their crime profits]] into the legal economy.{{citation needed|date=August 2023}}