The clock tower stands in the oldest part of Aix-en Provence, on the edge of Place de L’Hotel de Ville and Saint-Saveur, and funnels pedestrians in and out of the old city center through its arch. Erected in 1510 on old Roman foundations, the top of the tower houses an astronomical clock that was added in 1661.
During the day the square is full of people, enjoying their afternoons and evenings in the cafes, and every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday morning it is full of vendors selling flowers from their stalls at the flower market. The square is surrounded by shops and on three sides – the usual Tabac, a boulangerie, and any number of cafes – and then next to the tower, is the Hotel de Ville.
At night the tower pokes up into the dark sky, while moon shaped faces can be spotted through its arched portal. It’s easy enough to imagine the past while standing here. The tourists are all having dinner in any one of the restaurants in town, or crashed out in their hotel rooms after a long day of hiking the paving stones or the hills around town. That leaves a lot of room for the imagination.
Hotel de Ville = City Hall
Tabac = A tabacco shop
boulangerie = bakery
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Tags: aix, clock tower, daily photo, hotel de ville, Saint-Saveur
