Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Église du Saint-Esprit Here we are dandering along the Rue Espariat. There are so many ancient historical religious and architectural treasures to be discovered by exploring these narrow streets.
We discover a 13th Century Augustinian Convent and just opposite the Église du Saint-Esprit is a Roman Catholic Church in Aix-en-Provence.
Convent-
The Augustinian convent in Aix-en-Provence, founded in the 13th century, was a major religious building located on Rue Espariat, extending to the Cours Mirabeau. It formed a whole neighborhood around a central cloister, with a welcoming church and chapels derived from Aixese notables like Nicolas de Littera. The current bell tower, built in 1472 thanks to the partial financing of Monsieur de Guiran, replaces an earlier tower. Its wrought iron campanile, added in 1667, is designed to resist the mistral.
The convent played a civic role. The church sometimes housed the town council in the 14th century, and the neighbouring door was renamed "gate of the Augustins". Luther reportedly stayed there around 1510-1511. Seized during the Revolution, the site was transformed into private dwellings, retaining only the tower (classified in 1926) and remains of the chapel and cloister (classified in 1971). Today, the tower and chapel belong to the commune, while the surrounding buildings are private property.
The architecture reflects its evolution: the 15th century square tower, on 22-ft deep foundations, dominates the remains integrated into modern buildings. The church's narthex, visible on Rue Espariat, is now occupied by a business.
The site, partially accessible, combines public and private heritage. The tower, symbol of the Augustinian quarter, gives its name to a nearby fountain and remains a historic landmark in the city centre.
Location
Exactly opposite the Augustinian Convent is
Église du Saint-Esprit
The address is 40 rue Espariat in Aix-en-Provence.
Église du Saint-Esprit -History
In the 18th century, the Hôpital du Saint-Esprit, a hospital of the Order of the Holy Ghost, and several houses were torn down to make way for the construction of a new church. It was designed by architects Laurent Vallon (1652-1724) and Georges Vallon (1688-1767), and built from 1706 to 1728. It was then known as Église Saint-Jérôme, in honour of Jérôme de Grimaldi (1597–1685), who served as Archbishop of Aix from 1655 to 1683. It was dedicated by Forbin-La Barben in 1716. It was fully sculpted and painted from 1726 to 1728.
Inside, there is a retable dating back to 1505.
At present
It is the main parish church for university students in Aix. The current priests are Fr Gilles-Marie Lecomte and Fr Benoît Coppeaux
It is open every day from 7:30am
Église du Saint-Esprit Here we are dandering along the Rue Espariat. There are so many ancient historical religious and architectural treasures to be discovered by exploring these narrow streets.
We discover a 13th Century Augustinian Convent and just opposite the Église du Saint-Esprit is a Roman Catholic Church in Aix-en-Provence.
Convent-
The Augustinian convent in Aix-en-Provence, founded in the 13th century, was a major religious building located on Rue Espariat, extending to the Cours Mirabeau. It formed a whole neighborhood around a central cloister, with a welcoming church and chapels derived from Aixese notables like Nicolas de Littera. The current bell tower, built in 1472 thanks to the partial financing of Monsieur de Guiran, replaces an earlier tower. Its wrought iron campanile, added in 1667, is designed to resist the mistral.
The convent played a civic role. The church sometimes housed the town council in the 14th century, and the neighbouring door was renamed "gate of the Augustins". Luther reportedly stayed there around 1510-1511. Seized during the Revolution, the site was transformed into private dwellings, retaining only the tower (classified in 1926) and remains of the chapel and cloister (classified in 1971). Today, the tower and chapel belong to the commune, while the surrounding buildings are private property.
The architecture reflects its evolution: the 15th century square tower, on 22-ft deep foundations, dominates the remains integrated into modern buildings. The church's narthex, visible on Rue Espariat, is now occupied by a business.
The site, partially accessible, combines public and private heritage. The tower, symbol of the Augustinian quarter, gives its name to a nearby fountain and remains a historic landmark in the city centre.
Location
Exactly opposite the Augustinian Convent is
Église du Saint-Esprit
The address is 40 rue Espariat in Aix-en-Provence.
Église du Saint-Esprit -History
In the 18th century, the Hôpital du Saint-Esprit, a hospital of the Order of the Holy Ghost, and several houses were torn down to make way for the construction of a new church. It was designed by architects Laurent Vallon (1652-1724) and Georges Vallon (1688-1767), and built from 1706 to 1728. It was then known as Église Saint-Jérôme, in honour of Jérôme de Grimaldi (1597–1685), who served as Archbishop of Aix from 1655 to 1683. It was dedicated by Forbin-La Barben in 1716. It was fully sculpted and painted from 1726 to 1728.
Inside, there is a retable dating back to 1505.
At present
It is the main parish church for university students in Aix. The current priests are Fr Gilles-Marie Lecomte and Fr Benoît Coppeaux
It is open every day from 7:30am
