Place des Pr锚cheurs (Preachers Square), Aix-en-Provence

Preachers Square (Place des Pr锚cheurs) is a public plaza with a stunning fountain. It was named after the Dominican convent near the square, destroyed during the French Revolution.

The square was first designed in the 15th century by artist Jean de Paris. It was expanded and beautified around 1640 by architect Jean Lombard. The Preachers Square, now admired for its beauty, was once used for pu vbblic shaming and executions.

The Pr锚cheurs fountain, added in 1748, was crafted by sculptor Jean-Pancrace Chastel. It consisted of a tall obelisk with four lions guarding each corner. The four medallions embedded in the obelisk feature Sextus, the founder of the Roman city, Charles III, Louis XV, and Louis XVIII.

The fountain was destroyed in 1793. The restoration of the Pr锚cheurs fountain didn't take place until 1833.

Preachers Square is located in front of the Madeleine Church, constructed between 1691 and 1703. The church is known for its many works of art by artists who lived in Aix. It was the home church of artist Paul Cezanne and his family.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Aix-en-Provence. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Place des Pr锚cheurs (Preachers Square)
Sight Location: Aix-en-Provence, France (See walking tours in Aix-en-Provence)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Aix-en-Provence Fountains and Squares Tour

Walking Tours in Aix-en-Provence, France

Create Your Own Walk in Aix-en-Provence

Creating your own self-guided walk in Aix-en-Provence is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Aix-en-Provence Fountains and Squares Tour

Aix-end-Provence is known for its fountains. With more than 1,000 fountains, a tourist could spend weeks walking around the city without glimpsing them all. The fountains began appearing under the Roman empire when the Romans discovered Aix's natural thermal water source. They referred to the area as Aquae Sextiae or the Waters of Sextius.

The fountains appear throughout the city and are... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.6 Km or 1 Miles

In the Footsteps of Paul C茅zanne

Paul Cezanne created a scandal. While staying at the home of Doctor Paul Gachet in Auvers-sur-Oise, he painted an homage to Edouard Manet's work, Olympia, based on Titian's Venus of Urbino. Titian painted a goddess. Manet painted a prostitute. In his "New Olympia," Cezanne painted himself in the painting.

The nude New Olympia, seemingly a muse, reclines on her couch.... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles

Aix-en-Provence Introduction Walking Tour

Aix-en-Provence is a city in southern France, about 30 km (or 20 mi) north of Marseille. Aix was founded by Roman Consul Sextius Calvinus in 123 BC. Calvinus called it Aquae Sextiae, which means "Waters of Sextius," after the warm springs in the area. During the Middle Ages, it was the capital of Provence.

Aix reached a high point after the 12th century as it began to emerge as a... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles

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