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Aix-en-Provence, France - About the City - Fountains The construction of the Fontaine de la Rotonde in 1860 marked Aix's passage to a modern city.
Born of the simple need to store water, fountains achieved a rank of nobility in France during the 17th century when they became integrated into the urban landscape. Forty public fountains in particular bear demonstrate the styles and needs of Aix, which has integrated them into the soul of the city. Here are a few examples of Aix’s most representative fountains from various eras. EspeluqueThe oldest fountain in Aix has Espeluco engraved on it in Provençal. During the 15th century, this was the only watering point in the burg of St Sauveur. It was moved several times until 1756, when Georges Vallon gave it a permanent home at the place de l’archevêché. A plaque commemorating Marcel Provence was added in 1953. La Fontaine des Quatre DauphinsIn the heart of the Mazarin neighborhood, this fountain was sculpted by Jean-Claude Rambot in 1667. With four dolphins on a bed of waves, it is a testimony to the baroque art that was popular among Aix’s nobility. La Fontaine de l’Hôtel de VilleDecorated by Chastel, who notably sculpted the water-spouting mascarons, this fountain dates to 1756 and is the base of a Roman column. La Fontaine AlbertasIn 1912, fissures in the center of the stone required that the fountain be replaced. It was made identical to the original, with the help of students from the Ecole des Arts et Métiers d’Aix. Les Fontaines du Cours MirabeauConstructed in 1691 by Laurent Vallon, the Fontaine des Neuf Canons replaced a drinking fountain that was used by troops before the Cours was created. Further along, the Fontaine d’Eau Chaude, called Moussue because of the thick foam that covers it, spouts hot water coming from the springs in Bagniers. At the top of Cours Mirabeau is the Fontaine du Roi René, designed in 1819 by Pierre-Henri Revoil. The statue on it is the work of David d’Angers. Fontaine de la RotondeAix’s most imposing fountain, it dates to 1860. It was a turning point, not only due to its exceptional size, but because it was the first with a cast iron basin. The three status, Justice, Agriculture, and Beaux-Arts) decorate the fountain and recall the principal activities of the city. This fountain was a symbolic marker of the town’s modernity, with no walls or gates, open to the world. Today, the “Grande Fountaine” is at the heart of the city.
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