Tanners’ Square

Welcome to the charming Tanners’ Square. The centerpiece of the square is a beautiful fountain – well, no surprise there! Come take a closer look. It was first built in 1761 to designs by Georges Vallon. Yet it was remodeled a century later and installed here, on this square, where tanners once lived and worked. The fountain was rebuilt in stone from Calissanne, and it sits on a basin crafted in stone from Pourrières, a small village some 30 kilometers from Aix-en-Provence. Look closely at the pedestal – there are lions’ heads on all four sides, and a vase sculpted by Jean Chastel and decorated with little angels and griffins. Just above you, at the corner of Fermée Street, you’ll find an 18th-century niche, with a statue depicting the Virgin Mary and Child. The name of the street itself is rather strange – it means “Closed Street” and it dates back to 1664. You see, back then, the entire street was sealed off to contain an epidemic that was sweeping through the city. The name stuck ever since! Today, the Tanners’ Square is teeming with life and it’s a fantastic spot to grab a drink or a bite, and watch the world go by!