Tour de l’Horloge in Aix-en-Provence

Tower in Aix en Provence

Aix-en-Provence, Place De La Mairie
CC BY-SA 4.0 / Rolf Kranz

The Clock Tower (Tour de l’Horloge) stands as a prominent monument on the Town Hall Square (Place de l’Hôtel-de-Ville), bearing witness to centuries of history. Erected in 1510, this tower occupies the site once occupied by a Roman-era military checkpoint.

Distinguished by its ornate ogees, braces, and pinnacles, the Clock Tower showcases a captivating Gothic architectural style enhanced by commemorative plaques and sculptures added over time. Particularly noteworthy is the tower’s white limestone foundation, which harkens back to its origins as part of the Sextius military checkpoint.

Installed in 1661, the Clock Tower houses an impressive astronomical clock. Beneath the clock, four wooden statues symbolizing the seasons stand, manually rotated to reflect the changing times of year. Notably, among these figures is a blindfolded cherub, serving as a poignant reminder of the timeless adage that love knows no sight.

Within the tower’s interior resides a wrought-iron cage housing a bell, tolling the passing hours throughout the day. Originally installed to warn the town of potential threats approaching its borders, this bell continues to resonate with the echoes of history, underscoring the enduring significance of the Clock Tower in Aix-en-Provence.

The Tour de l’Horloge in Aix-en-Provence appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Aix en Provence!

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Visiting Tour de l’Horloge in Aix-en-Provence

Address: Tour de l'Horloge, Rue Gaston de Saporta, Aix-en-Provence, France
Duration: 20 minutes

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