Eglise de la Madeleine (Church of the Madeleine), Aix-en-Provence

At one corner of Preachers Square in Aix-en-Provence stands a church with more comebacks than a rock band reunion tour鈥攖he Church of the Madeleine. It originally rose in the 13th century as part of a Dominican convent complex, only to go up in flames in 1383. Rebuilt, it crumbled again in 1465. Clearly, longevity wasn鈥檛 in the blueprint鈥攗ntil 1703, when local architect Laurent Vallon gave the church its current form.

The fa莽ade you see today? That came later, under the chisel of Henri R茅voil, during France鈥檚 Second Empire phase鈥攖hink serious symmetry. There's even a detailed frame of the Annunciation out front, just in case you needed a reminder this place takes its sacred storytelling seriously. Step inside, and the space opens up with the stark, weighty air of Dominican design鈥攗nadorned, but undeniably grand.

The church鈥檚 collection of sacred art isn鈥檛 modest, though. You'll find works like The Death of Saint Joseph by Jean-Baptiste van Loo, Magdalene at the Home of Simon by Michel Serre, and a 15th-century Annunciation triptych by Barth茅lemy d鈥橢yck. There鈥檚 also Our Lady of the Graces, a statue reportedly gifted by none other than Saint Bonaventure鈥攚hen a saint gives you a sculpture, you keep it.

And for C茅zanne fans, this church has extra weight. Paul was baptized here, alongside his sister Marie. Their parents exchanged vows under this very roof. Later, in 1881, C茅zanne鈥檚 younger sister Rose tied the knot here too. So if these walls could talk, they'd probably paint a family portrait鈥攐n canvas, of course.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Eglise de la Madeleine (Church of the Madeleine)
Sight Location: Aix-en-Provence, France (See walking tours in Aix-en-Provence)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

In the Footsteps of Paul C茅zanne

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.

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

In the Footsteps of Paul C茅zanne

Paul C茅zanne, often called the 鈥渇ather of modern art鈥� for bridging 19th-century post-impressionism and the birth of early modernism, caused a bit of a stir early in his career. While staying with Doctor Gachet in Auvers-sur-Oise, he painted his take on Manet鈥檚 Olympia鈥攂ut with a twist. Instead of just a reclining nude, C茅zanne inserted himself into the scene, back turned, like a shy... 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 may not have coastal views, but it compensates in style with its Roman bathwater and city logistics. Founded in 123 BC by Roman consul Gaius Sextius Calvinus, this southern French settlement鈥攐riginally named Aquae Sextiae, which means 鈥淲aters of Sextius鈥濃€攚as built around its thermal springs and the promise of a good soak. Centuries later, the name was streamlined to... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles

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