Bastide d'Orcel
MonumentHidden Treasure
Bastide d'Orcel, located in Aix-en-Provence (Bouches-du-Rhône), is a Renaissance château built in the 16th century. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- autre
- Period
- Renaissance (16th century)
- Location
- Aix-en-Provence, Bouches-du-Rhône, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 43.5155, 5.3973
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00080977
An elegant 18th-century Provençal country house nestled in the hills of Aix-en-Provence, the Bastide d’Orcel epitomises the aristocratic way of life with its ochre-coloured façades and French-style gardens.
History
In the heart of the Aix region, the Bastide d'Orcel stands out as one of the discreet jewels of 18th-century Provencal residential architecture. Built in the last quarter of the Age of Enlightenment, it is part of a long-established tradition in the Pays d'Aix whereby the great families of the noblesse de robe and the parliamentary bourgeoisie would build themselves a summer residence in the countryside, a refuge from the heat and epidemics of the city. What sets the Bastide d'Orcel apart is the remarkable coherence of its architectural ensemble: the main building, farm outbuildings and park form a harmonious whole that has survived the centuries without losing its unity. Built according to the canons of southern classicism, it offers the elegant sobriety typical of the great country houses of Aix, a world away from the rococo extravagance that triumphed in the northern capitals of the time. The experience of the Bastide d'Orcel engages all the senses: the limewashed facades tinted with yellow ochre, the Provençal shutters, the terraces shaded by hundred-year-old plane trees and the silence perfumed by the garrigue that envelops the premises create a picture of absolute serenity. For the attentive visitor, every detail - moulding, ashlar base, ironwork on the balcony - tells the story of the skills of Provençal craftsmen in the Age of Enlightenment. Its listing as a Historic Monument in 1984 testifies to the recognised heritage value of a building that, along with its counterparts in the Aix area, represents an irreplaceable model of noble Provencal housing. The Bastide d'Orcel is one of a constellation of houses dotted around Aix-en-Provence - the bastides of Le Tholonet, Beaupré and La Mignarde - forming an architectural heritage of exceptional coherence and richness.
Architecture
The Bastide d'Orcel is fully in keeping with the architectural vocabulary of late 18th-century Provencal classicism. The main building has an orderly, symmetrical layout, typical of the classical spirit: a facade with regular bays punctuated by windows with straight or slightly arched lintels, a base of local limestone ashlar - probably Bibémus or Saint-Marc stone, which is ubiquitous in Aix buildings - and a sober crown with a moulded cornice. The light-coloured renderings, tinted with ochre or beige whitewash, exalt the Provençal light and give the ensemble that golden luminosity so typical of the bastides of the Aix region. The interior layout follows the typical plan of a large rural residence in the south of France: a central vestibule opens onto a grand staircase with returns, leading to the first-floor flats reserved for the masters. The reception rooms are adorned with painted panelling, veined marble fireplaces and stuccoed cornice ceilings, all characteristic of the Louis XVI style as interpreted by Provencal craftsmen. The adjoining rooms facing the garden are south-facing, maximising sunshine in winter while providing shade in summer. The estate also includes the outbuildings that are essential to farming - sheds, stables, oil cellars and wine presses - which together with the main dwelling form a coherent ensemble around a courtyard of honour. The parklands, laid out in terraces that follow the topography of the land, combine formal pleasure gardens, groves of plane trees and pine trees, recreating the landscape of domesticated garrigue so characteristic of the great estates of Aix.
Related Figures
La famille Orcel — vraisemblables commanditaires de la bastide au XVIIIe siècle, dont le nom reste attaché à la propriétéLes artisans et maçons provençaux — bâtisseurs anonymes formés à la tradition constructive aixoise héritée de l'atelier de Pierre Pavillon et Laurent VallonLes parlementaires aixois — classe sociale dont est probablement issu le premier propriétaire, représentants d'une élite provinciale cultivée et fortunéeLes agents du Comité des biens nationaux — acteurs de la Révolution qui administrèrent les propriétés confisquées aux émigrés dans le territoire aixois après 1792Les conservateurs des Monuments Historiques de la DRAC PACA — artisans de la protection patrimoniale conclue par l'arrêté d'inscription du 21 décembre 1984
Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Bastide d'Orcel located?
Bastide d'Orcel is located in Aix-en-Provence, Bouches-du-Rhône department, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, France.
When was Bastide d'Orcel built?
Bastide d'Orcel dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Bastide d'Orcel open to visitors?
Bastide d'Orcel is currently closed to visitors.