MAUSSANE LES ALPILLES - Over the water

7 points of interest

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  Patrimony and history

  Sainte-Croix Church

  Completed in 1754, the church was designed in a neoclassical style by the Avignon architect Joseph Mottard. Externally, the bell tower is a tall square tower terminated by an openwork balustrade and a wrought iron campanile. The interior is a construction with 3 naves. The south side is illuminated by large windows enriched with stained glass windows of the 19th century, while the north side shows blind windows because of the mistral.

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  Water and rivers

  Fontaine of the 4 Seasons

  Built around 1869 by the Avignon architect Louis Astruc, it is an unexpected masterpiece for a village that only had 1800 inhabitants. In the center of a large bassin, stands a pillar supporting a cauldron. Around, four feminine figures represent the four seasons. Originally, it served as a public fountain and then became a place of refreshment for the terraces of neighbouring cafes. It also feeds the Napoleon III wash house, located nearby.

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  Water and rivers

  Napoleon III wash house

  This Second Empire wash house style (Napoleon III), was inaugurated on March 26, 1865, after having been realized by the Avignon architect Louis Astruc. The inhabitants of the town came there to do their laundry, making an important social meeting place. For the period this wash house presented a great particularity : It allowed to do the laundry standing, and no longer on the knees. ;

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  Patrimony and history

  Mural by Jean-Claude Quilici

  This mural was realized in 2014 by 35 students under the mentorship of the artist Jean-Claude Quilici. The latter is a painter of Corsican origin, born in Marseille in 1941, who has a workshop in Maussane-les-Alpilles. Specialized in Provencal painting, he exhibited in the largest French, American and Japanese galleries. ;Among other things, he has created a 40m by 4m mural for the University of Corte and a 130m long mural for the Marseille metro.

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  Water and rivers

  Planet fountain and washhouse

  The Planet fountain, was erected in 1810. It was Dr. Denis-Honoré Quenin, then mayor of Maussane-les-Alpilles, who had it built at his own expense on land belonging to him. The water collected at the Grand Moulin de Manville was brought by a pottery pipe in the heart of "Old Maussane". But it will be necessary to wait until 1920 so that this fountain is prolonged of a wash-house. It was then built in the same style as the Napoleon wash, allowing to stand.

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  Water and rivers

  Gaudre du Trible

  The Gaudre du Trible, takes its source north of the village of Baux-de-Provence, cross the town of Maussane-les-Alpilles and flows south in the channel of the Baux Valley. Gaudre, Provençal term meaning "small brook", refers to the natural flows of the Alpilles. These are secondary streams whose flow depends on precipitation. In the dry period, they do not flow any more or less, while during periods of precipitation, they are more abundant.

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  Patrimony and history

  French map of the cut stone

  ""French map of the cut stone offered by the quarrymen and stonecutters of today in honour of the quarrymen and stonemasons from the past who, by erecting cathedrals and castles, chapels and modest houses built our common heritage : France." This map is 5 m by 5 and weighs 6 tons. It represents France at 1/200 000 and has as many different stones as departments. It was realized by the “Compagnons Passants Tailleurs de Pierres” association.