Now that the long-plannned Musée Picasso will no longer be moving into the old College des Precheurs building, the town council has put it up for sale on the open market. And opposition parties are asking for details of the terms and conditions of the sale.
It was built in 1272 as a convent, occupying a central place in town, opposite the palace of the counts of Provence. After the revolution, it had various uses, finally becoming a school 1832-2015. Potential owners will have 4,500 sq m of property plus 2,000 sq m of courtyard and garden to renovate, at a cost of millions of euros.
No-one wants it to be turned into private flats, or a corporate HQ, barred to public access by digicoded gates. The town council has said that the new owner’s activity should add to the culture and beauty of the quartier and also boost commerce, while saying it might house 3-4 flats. They are open to ideas.
The opposition groups are arguing for creative solutions: Aix-en-coeur for instance want a centre for ‘social innovation’. This would comprise creches, workshops, training classes, meeting spaces for cultural and creative activities, and facilities for co-working. They reference this https://www.epopee-village.com/ in Marseille. Interesting!
Meanwhile, outside in the square, scaffolding is surrounding the fountain designed by Georges Vallon in 1758, and decorated by the inventive sculptor Jean-Pancrace Chastel. It was last cleaned up in 1980 and has since suffered damage from traffic and ambient pollution. Now hydraulic are being fixed and stone is being replaced – the lions are getting new paws – and when the covers come off in the summer, after the 300,000€ face-lift, the fountain should be good for decades to come.
Chastel’s magnificent eagle was replaced in 1980, by the way – the original is tucked safely away from pollution in the sculpture gallery at the Musée Granet.
aixcentric 
Leave a Reply