Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The fountain of the Neuf-Canons, situated halfway up the Cours Mirabeau in Aix-en-Provence, dates from 1691 and is attributed to architect Laurent Vallon. It is distinguished by its nine "cannons" — pipes projecting water — distributed between a central jet and two superimposed basins. These devices, in the shape of a carp tail, allowed sufficient flow to quench the herds of sheep in transhumance between Crau and the Alps, a practice attested from the 12th century at this site.

Originally, the fountain was located outside the medieval walls of Aix, in an area where an servitude allowed animals to drink. In the 17th century, its low margin and wide perimeter were designed to facilitate this use. In the 20th century, its congestion became an obstacle to car traffic: in 1944, an American tank damaged one of its four lobes (although this anecdote was contested by Provence), causing the removal of two opposite lobes to fluidize traffic.

Ranked a historic monument in 1929, the fountain illustrates the water history of Aix-en-Provence and its adaptation to urban needs. Its name comes from technical terminology in fountainry, where a "cannon" refers to the pipe projecting water. Despite the changes it has undergone, it remains a testament to the pastoral traditions and urban evolution of the city, between heritage and modernity.

Sources also mention a possible attribution to Laurent Vallon, although details of its exact design remain partial. The fountain is now owned by the municipality and protected as historical monuments, while remaining accessible to the public on the Mirabeau River, a major axis of the city centre.

External links