25 Rue Gaston-de-Saporta

Nicolas-Claude Fabri de Peiresc (1580–1637) was one of the foremost intellectual figures of 17th-century Provence and a central member of the European Republic of Letters. Born in Belgentier in the Var region, he later settled in Aix-en-Provence, where he served as a councillor at the Parliament of Provence while devoting his life to scholarship and scientific inquiry.

A polymath of remarkable breadth, Peiresc conducted research in astronomy, archaeology, numismatics, botany, and natural history. He maintained an extensive correspondence with leading European thinkers, including Galileo Galilei and Peter Paul Rubens, helping to position Aix-en-Provence within a vast intellectual network.

Among his scientific achievements were early observations of Jupiter’s satellites and important studies of the Orion Nebula. His ability to coordinate scholars across Europe earned him lasting recognition as one of the great savants of his century.

The Monument

The monument dedicated to Peiresc stands on Place de l’Université, near Cathédrale Saint-Sauveur. It takes the form of a bronze bust and was inaugurated in 1895. The sculpture was created by Constantin Carpentier.

Like many bronze monuments in France, the original bust was melted down during the Second World War. It was subsequently replaced after 1945, ensuring the preservation of Peiresc’s memory in the city to which he devoted much of his life.

A Place of Intellectual Memory

Place de l’Université recalls the historic presence of Aix’s university, founded in 1409. The monument to Peiresc therefore stands in a location symbolically linked to scholarship and learning.

Though discreet in scale, the bust commemorates a figure who embodied curiosity, intellectual exchange, and scientific openness. It remains a reminder of Aix-en-Provence’s role in the cultural and scientific networks of early modern Europe.