The district of Mazarin

The district of Mazarin is an urban area located in the southern part of the city of Aix-en-Provence. It is located near the Cours Mirabeau and was built in the 17th century by the famous Michel Mazarin who built several notable hotels and architectural fountains.

The surface area of the district of Mazarin is equivalent to that of the third of Aix-en-Provence. From the arrival of Michel Mazarin to the village, this one has brought a few touches of improvement and aesthetics in order to better bring out the city.

This emblematic character has indeed built new neighborhoods in order to be able to follow the demographic evolutions and the norms of security in force. In February 1646, his request to create a bourgeois city was accepted by King Louis XIV.

Today, it is possible for us to contemplate remarkable buildings with an exemplary architecture of the XVIIth and XVIIIth centuries in the district of Mazarin. He left his loan in almost four streets of the village.

The place of the Four Dolphins, which formerly bore the name of the Place Mazarine, was the one that did the founder’s pride. By improving the place, Michel Mazarin wanted to erect a statue to pay tribute to his brother, Cardinal Jules Mazarin who was also Prime Minister of Louis XIV.

But he died long before and the project was abandoned. Instead, a magnificent fountain was erected with four dolphins. The natural environment of Aix-en-Provence in the district Mazarin is among others sported of pine forests and oaks ideal to carry out some parts of excursions towards the mountains Sainte-Victoire for example.

You will discover a nature still virgin without any construction ... It breathes the open air in a peaceful and quiet atmosphere. Baroque-style houses and refuges are located just below the chains, where you can jump for a one-night stay or for a weekend so you can relax in the heart of an exceptional paradise.