Hotel de Ville at the Heart of Old and New Aix en Provence

Aix’s Hôtel de Ville

The Hôtel de Ville (Town Hall) and the busy square directly in front date from 1741, a time when Aix-en-Provence was the capital of Provence. The building was constructed for meetings between consuls and the Town Council.

Today, the building remains the place where most administrative requests happen. All residents of Aix who wish to marry must do so at the Hôtel de Ville, as only civil ceremonies are considered legal in France.

As the Hôtel de Ville is a public building, you can enter without charge as long as the doors are open. However, in more recent years, there is additional security at the front. If you can, step through the majestic carved wooden doorway, decorated with lion heads and take a look at the cobblestone courtyard. Take note of the ornate wrought iron gates and the ochre stone, which came from the nearby Bibemus Quarry.

©Perfectly Provence

The clock tower in the square adjacent to the Hôtel de Ville was erected on Roman foundations in 1510. The tower was built to demonstrate the city’s importance to both the inhabitants and other regional towns. Inside the tower is an astronomic clock, added in 1661, with four wooden statues representing the seasons.

©Perfectly Provence

The elaborate wrought iron structure surrounding the bell is known as a campanile. In Provence, where the powerful mistral winds can blow for days, these structures prevent the bell from ringing randomly.

The fountain in front of the Hôtel de Ville was sculpted by Jean-Pancrace Chastel in 1756. The fountain, known as the Four Seasons, includes a Roman column salvaged from ruins.

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On Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings, a flower market brings a riot of colour and activity to the square. The market vendors sell flowers that are grown locally, like tulips, mimosa and ranunculus, as well as flowers from other parts of the world. Many flowers arrive directly from Hyères’ home to France’s largest wholesale flower market.

©Perfectly Provence

©Perfectly Provence

Hall aux Grains

Next to the Hôtel de Ville is the Hall aux Grains (grain exchange) built in 1718, at a time when the tax on grains represented a substantial revenue source for Aix. In Provence and throughout France, the construction of decorative buildings was not reserved for the nobility. Buildings of public interest were also considered works of art.

Today, this building houses a busy post office.

©Perfectly Provence

Chastel also sculpted the triangular portion of the façade that depicts an old man holding an oar symbolizing the Rhone River and the importance of navigation. The Rhone River source is in Switzerland. The river runs through principal cities including Lyon, Orange, and Avignon before reaching the delta on the shores of the Mediterranean. The goddess Sybille symbolizes the Durance River, which holds grapes and lemons in her left hand to represent the abundance of food cultivated locally. The Durance River continues to provide water for fertile agricultural land and an abundant water supply. Sybille’s trailing leg is meant to represent the frequent overflowing of the Durance riverbed.

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Carolyne Kauser-Abbott

With her camera and laptop close at hand, Carolyne has traded in her business suits for the world of freelance writing and blogging. Her first airplane ride at six months of age was her introduction to the exciting world of travel.

While in Provence, Carolyne can be found hiking with friends, riding the hills around the Alpilles or tackling Mont Ventoux. Her attachment to the region resonates in Perfectly Provence this digital magazine that she launched in 2014. This website is an opportunity to explore the best of the Mediterranean lifestyle (food & wine, places to stay, expat stories, books on the region, travel tips, real estate tips and more), through our contributors' articles.

Carolyne writes a food and travel blog Ginger and Nutmeg. Carolyne’s freelance articles can be found in Global Living Magazine, Avenue Magazine and City Palate (Published Travel Articles).