Lion Fountain

In front of you stands the Lion Fountain, at the centre of the square that shares its name. Carved from Tavel stone, the sculpture shows a seated lion with its paw resting on the town’s coat of arms. If you look closely, you’ll notice the letters A and V intertwined. These stand for the town’s old Latin name, Albania super Velnam, which means “Aubagne on the Huveaune.” The Huveaune is the river that starts in the Sainte-Baume mountains to the east and flows to the Mediterranean near Marseille. You’ll also spot the river depicted on the coat of arms, just below the letters, along with two fleur-de-lis. These were granted to Aubagne by King Henri IV as a symbol of gratitude for the town’s loyalty to the French crown. The square was created in 1864 to open up what had become a very cramped town center. Its distinctive Lion Fountain adds a special charm to the heart of Aubagne.