Couvent des Prêcheurs, Historical convent in Aix-en-Provence, France
The Couvent des Prêcheurs is a convent building in Aix-en-Provence featuring medieval architectural elements and a public cloister in the city center. The complex includes various rooms that have served different purposes across centuries.
The convent was founded between 1226 and 1277 on land given by the Count of Provence, and had to be rebuilt after a fire in 1383. These early events shaped the building structure, which was reshaped multiple times afterward.
The convent served as a religious center for centuries before shifting to educational purposes, shaping its role in the city's life. The building still carries traces of these different uses in its spaces today.
The cloister is open to visitors during regular hours and offers a quiet place to explore in the heart of the city. The site is located centrally with good access to other historical sites.
The building stood vacant for years until it was purchased by the French State Chancellery in 2021, following the failure of earlier plans to house a Picasso museum. This marked a turning point for the monument's future.
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