Maison de la Tour de l'Horloge

The clock tower of Aix-en-Provence stands in the Place de l'Hôtel de Ville, in the middle of the old town, and it is one of the most recognisable landmarks of the city. It has a long story. A gate in the medieval walls originally stood on the site, and when the walls were demolished, the tower was kept, raised and given its present form in the early sixteenth century, with a belfry in a late Gothic style, with pinnacles and carved stone details. It became the town's belfry, a symbol of the civic authority that governed the city, in the way that a belfry served such a purpose in many towns of northern Europe, and its bell rang to announce events and to mark the hours for the market.

The astronomical clock on the tower is its most distinctive feature. It was installed in the seventeenth century and shows not only the time, but also the months, the signs of the zodiac and the movements of the sun and moon, in a mechanism that tells the date and the season. Below it, four wooden statues represent the four seasons, and they are changed according to the time of year, so that the figure on display always matches the season. This is a charming detail that surprises many visitors, who look up at the clock and find a figure holding a garland of flowers in spring, a sheaf of wheat in summer, grapes in autumn and a bundle of wood in winter. The clock is a work of craftsmanship that reflects the civic pride of Aix.

The square around the tower is one of the most pleasant in the city. The Hôtel de Ville, a fine seventeenth-century town hall built in a classical style, stands next to it, and the old grain hall, with a carved pediment, faces it across the open space. The Place de l'Hôtel de Ville is lively, with cafés, shops and a flower market held on several mornings of the week, and in the evening, people gather around the fountain and the old buildings are lit up. The interior of the tower is not usually open to the public, so most people enjoy it from outside.

Aix has many other things to see around the tower. The Cathédrale Saint-Sauveur, the Quartier Mazarin, the Cours Mirabeau with its fountains, the Fontaine de la Rotonde, the Musée Granet and the Atelier de Cézanne are within walking distance, while the Jardin des Arènes, the Jardin Botanique des Planes and the Marché d'Aix-en-Provence add green space and local produce. The Château de la Barben and the Château de la Tour d'Aigues can be reached by car.

The tower is free to see and open at all times. It suits walkers, history lovers and photographers. Visit in the morning for the market, or at dusk for the light.