Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Tower of the Salon de Provence Clock was erected in the 17th century to replace the old town gate Farreiroux, demolished. In 1626, the local community decided on its construction, completed in two phases: the first two floors in 1630, and the third in 1664. The tower adopts a style reminiscent of the "Chinese towers", with an Ionian base, and was designed for the Mistral to carry the sound of its bells to the city centre.

In 1792, the Royal Arms were replaced by the inscription "The Law", reflecting revolutionary upheavals. The tower underwent several restorations (1785, 1890, 1912) and resisted the 1909 earthquake, which blocked its clock at 9:10 a.m. Its most remarkable elements — the belfry and the bell in iron and bronze — were classified as historical monuments in 1912, followed by the inscription of the ensemble in 1926.

The tower houses a complex watchmaking: a lunar dial on the outside side, and a semainier on the inside, illustrated by planetary figures (Sunlight for Sunday, Moon for Monday, etc.). Although modernized (engines, electronics), it remains vulnerable to power cuts. Its campanile and machinery make it a rare testimony of Provencal watchmaking art in the Grand Century.

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