Halle Aux Grains (Grain Hall), Aix-en-Provence
The Grain Hall, or the Corn Exchange Hall (Halle Aux Grains), was the central home of the corn trade in the 18th century.
The hall was built in the neo-Classical architectural style from a design by architect Laurent Vallon. Before the construction of the building, grain traders met in Market Square. The city purchased many houses near the square to move trade transactions off the street and indoors. The old houses were demolished to make way for the new building.
The facades were designed in the Baroque architectural style by sculptor Jean-Pancrace Chastel. They were sculpted to show the soil fertility and the importance of the water, represented by figures of Saturn, the Roman God of Agriculture, and Cybele, the Roman Goddess of Fertility.
The Halle Aux Grains is now home to the General Post Office of Aix-en-Provence. It was listed as a historic monument in 1983.
The hall was built in the neo-Classical architectural style from a design by architect Laurent Vallon. Before the construction of the building, grain traders met in Market Square. The city purchased many houses near the square to move trade transactions off the street and indoors. The old houses were demolished to make way for the new building.
The facades were designed in the Baroque architectural style by sculptor Jean-Pancrace Chastel. They were sculpted to show the soil fertility and the importance of the water, represented by figures of Saturn, the Roman God of Agriculture, and Cybele, the Roman Goddess of Fertility.
The Halle Aux Grains is now home to the General Post Office of Aix-en-Provence. It was listed as a historic monument in 1983.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Aix-en-Provence. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Download The GPSmyCity App
Halle Aux Grains (Grain Hall) on Map
Sight Name: Halle Aux Grains (Grain Hall)
Sight Location: Aix-en-Provence, France (See walking tours in Aix-en-Provence)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Sight Location: Aix-en-Provence, France (See walking tours in Aix-en-Provence)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Walking Tours in Aix-en-Provence, France
Create Your Own Walk in Aix-en-Provence
Creating your own self-guided walk in Aix-en-Provence is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
In the Footsteps of Paul Cézanne
Paul Cezanne created a scandal. While staying at the home of Doctor Paul Gachet in Auvers-sur-Oise, he painted an homage to Edouard Manet's work, Olympia, based on Titian's Venus of Urbino. Titian painted a goddess. Manet painted a prostitute. In his "New Olympia," Cezanne painted himself in the painting.
The nude New Olympia, seemingly a muse, reclines on her couch.... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles
The nude New Olympia, seemingly a muse, reclines on her couch.... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles
Aix-en-Provence Introduction Walking Tour
Aix-en-Provence is a city in southern France, about 30 km (or 20 mi) north of Marseille. Aix was founded by Roman Consul Sextius Calvinus in 123 BC. Calvinus called it Aquae Sextiae, which means "Waters of Sextius," after the warm springs in the area. During the Middle Ages, it was the capital of Provence.
Aix reached a high point after the 12th century as it began to emerge as a... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles
Aix reached a high point after the 12th century as it began to emerge as a... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles
Aix-en-Provence Fountains and Squares Tour
Aix-end-Provence is known for its fountains. With more than 1,000 fountains, a tourist could spend weeks walking around the city without glimpsing them all. The fountains began appearing under the Roman empire when the Romans discovered Aix's natural thermal water source. They referred to the area as Aquae Sextiae or the Waters of Sextius.
The fountains appear throughout the city and are... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.6 Km or 1 Miles
The fountains appear throughout the city and are... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.6 Km or 1 Miles