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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Place des Quatre-Dauphins, located in the Mazarin district of Aix-en-Provence, was built in the 17th century during an urban extension initiated by Archbishop Michel Mazarin. In 1646, the latter obtained royal permission to demolish the southern ramparts to create a new neighbourhood inspired by the Italian Renaissance, contrasting with the existing medieval fabric. The square, originally named Place Saint-Michel in homage to the Archbishop, was designed to accommodate a statue of his brother, Cardinal Jules Mazarin, a project abandoned after his death in 1648.

The central fountain, carved in 1667 by Jean-Claude Rambot, is a Baroque masterpiece representing four dolphins surrounding a pyramid. Originally surmounted by a statue of St Michael, it was replaced successively by a fleur de lilies, a cross of Malta, and then a pine apple. The fountain, classified as a historic monument in 1905, is surrounded by private hotels such as the Boisgelin Hotel (1655) and chestnut trees in India, replacing a remarkable micocolier shot down in 1860.

The Mazarin district, designed according to a checker plan, symbolizes 17th century modern urban planning, combining classic aesthetics and functionality. The fountain, listed in the inventory of historical monuments since 1929, embodies this Aixian heritage, combining art, history and urban life. Its metallic ornamentation dates back to 1912, marking an evolution in its preservation.

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