aixcentric

It’s the site of Aix’s daily fruit and vegetable market, launched around 660 years ago. 

Place Richelme is pure Provence with heaps of seasonal produce, garden flowers, honeys, bread and pots of preserves; and all surrounded by cafes whose terraces spill out into the square.  But not any more.

The authorities have clamped down on five cafes with ‘fermetures administratives’ notices issued because they were employing migrants without the requisite papers.  These workers were employed either in the kitchens and/or carrying out the heavy work of moving tables and chairs at each end of the day.

The heaviest sanction of 10 weeks’ closure has fallen on Le Petit Bistrot, followed by l’Unic and La Cave de l’Horloge (both 2 months), Le Bar des PTT (4 weeks) and Le Duplex (3 weeks).

Photo by Cyril Sollier from La Provence. It shows the unfamiliar sight of this normally bustling square, emptied of terraces

Read on for more info from La Provence: https://www.laprovence.com/article/edition-aix-pays-daix/5462565/place-richelme-le-couperet-est-tombe-sur-les-cafetiers.html?amp

…..and thanks to Margaret for this heads-up.