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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Church of the Holy Spirit of Aix-en-Provence came into being in the 13th century with the foundation of a hospital by the Order of the Holy Spirit, dedicated to welcoming the poor. Located to the west of the city, near the countryside, this establishment was completed in the 15th century by a richly decorated chapel, while opposite the convent of the Augustins was erected. The two projects, carried out simultaneously, marked the urban and religious landscape of the city.

In the 17th century, the population expansion from Aix to the west, with the creation of the Villeverte district, made the chapel of the hospital small for the faithful. Despite medieval urban routes deemed archaic, popular pressure led to a new parish church project. After decades of negotiations between the Parliament of Provence, the cathedral chapter and the inhabitants, the estimate was finally reduced from 50,000 to 30,000 pounds by architect Laurent Vallon, allowing the laying of the first stone in 1706.

The church, blessed in 1716 as the parish of Saint-Jérôme in homage to Cardinal Grimaldi, was completed in 1726, but suffered from structural weaknesses as soon as it was built due to savings. Despite these defects, its baroque interior, decorated with sculptures and paintings, as well as its exceptional organ from the Carmelite convent, made it a major place of worship. During the Revolution, it was closed in 1794, sold without success, and reopened in 1802 before being consecrated in 1806.

The 19th century saw the church enriched with gifts and restorations, such as those of the organ by Antoine-Prosper Moitessier in 1858. In the 20th century, it was classified as a historical monument in 1985 and assigned in 2009 to the student Catholic Community of Aix, while remaining attached to the parish of Saint-Sauveur Cathedral. Its architecture, blending exterior sobriety and luxurious interior decoration, reflects the Provencal, Corsican and Spanish influences, while its history meets those of personalities like Napoleon Bonaparte, Pope Pius VII or the Count of Mirabeau.

Among the remarkable elements, the 18th century high altar, preserved intact thanks to a gift during the Revolution, and the stalls probably from a lost convent, illustrate the building's furniture heritage. The paintings, such as The Pentecost of Jean Daret or Christ on the Cross of Dandré-Bardon, as well as the statues of the four Aixese parishes, bear witness to his artistic and spiritual role. The ironworks, chandeliers and benign trees in red marble complete this ensemble, making the church a jewel of Provençal religious heritage.

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