Bastide la Torse dite aussi château de la Torse
CastleHidden Treasure
Bastide la Torse dite aussi château de la Torse, 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
- Castle
- Period
- Renaissance (16th century)
- Location
- Aix-en-Provence, Bouches-du-Rhône, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 43.5211, 5.4685
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00080978
Nichée dans la campagne aixoise, la bastide de la Torse incarne l'art de vivre provençal du XVIIIe siècle : façade ocre rythmée de pilastres, allées de platanes centenaires et jardins à la française hérités du Grand Siècle.
History
In the heart of the Aix-en-Provence region, between fragrant garrigues and light pine forests, the bastide of La Torse - also known as Château de la Torse - is one of the most accomplished examples of the aristocratic pleasure residence in Provence. Listed as a Historic Monument since 1987, it bears witness to the refined culture of Aix's parliamentary nobility and bourgeoisie, who in the 18th century liked to escape the summer heat of the city to enjoy the delights of the surrounding countryside. What sets the bastide de la Torse apart from the countless character properties dotted around the Aix region is above all the coherence of its architecture and landscaping. The main residence, sober and majestic, sits alongside carefully ordered outbuildings, planted courtyards and tiered terraces leading down to the farmland. The whole forms a self-contained microcosm, a direct legacy of the philosophy of the great estates of Roman antiquity, brought up to date by the humanists of the Renaissance. The visit is above all a sensory experience: the cool shade of the plane tree lanes in midsummer, the crunch of gravel underfoot in the courtyards, the pale light that bathes the façades in the late afternoon, and that special silence that only the Provençal countryside can offer. Architectural enthusiasts will find much to admire in the detail of the moulded cornices, mullioned windows and dressed stone gates, while lovers of historic gardens will appreciate the planting inherited from the classical canons. The natural setting adds to the magic of the place: the bastide is set in a landscape of garrigue, vineyards and lavender fields, with the timeless silhouette of Sainte-Victoire, so dear to Cézanne, as a backdrop. It's an invitation to slow down and let yourself be enveloped by the gentle art of living that made Aix-en-Provence famous throughout the Europe of the Enlightenment.
Architecture
The bastide of La Torse belongs to this category of pleasure homes, which combine the influence of French classical architecture with the constraints and traditions of Provencal architecture. The main building has a compact rectangular floor plan, typical of 18th-century country houses: one storey on a raised ground floor, crowned by a low-pitched roof covered with red terracotta tiles, a material emblematic of the Midi region. The main facade, facing south to take advantage of the sunshine while protecting against the tramontane wind, features a rigorous tripartite composition, punctuated by pilasters in local cut stone and enlivened by windows with moulded frames and crossettes. The materials used are those of the Aix building tradition: light-coloured limestone extracted from nearby quarries for the decorative elements - quoins, window surrounds, cornices - and whitewashed rendering for the walls, covered with a yellow ochre whitewash typical of the colours of Provence. The interior features the usual layout of fine residences of the period: a large reception room, dining room, study, alcove bedrooms and utility rooms, all served by a grand staircase with turned balusters. The estate includes farm and residential outbuildings - outbuildings, stables, sheds - arranged in a square or U-shape around a main courtyard enclosed by a wrought iron gate. The gardens, laid out according to the principles of the French garden adapted to the topography of Provence, combine parterres de broderie, cradle-shaped paths, stone ponds and successive terraces planted with pruned boxwood and Mediterranean species.
Related Figures
Propriétaires fondateurs de la noblesse de robe parlementaire aixoise (XVIIIe siècle)Maîtres maçons et entrepreneurs locaux de la région d'Aix-en-Provence (XVIIIe siècle)Familles bourgeoises successives propriétaires aux XIXe et XXe sièclesInspecteurs des Monuments Historiques ayant instruit le dossier de protection (1987)
Tags
Nearby castles
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Bastide la Torse dite aussi château de la Torse located?
Bastide la Torse dite aussi château de la Torse is located in Aix-en-Provence, Bouches-du-Rhône department, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, France.
When was Bastide la Torse dite aussi château de la Torse built?
Bastide la Torse dite aussi château de la Torse dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Bastide la Torse dite aussi château de la Torse open to visitors?
Bastide la Torse dite aussi château de la Torse is currently closed to visitors.
