Ecole du Lau (ou Dulau)
MonumentHidden Treasure
Ecole du Lau (ou Dulau), located in Arles (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
- Arles, Bouches-du-Rhône, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 43.6794, 4.6300
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00081132
In the heart of ancient Arles, the École du Lau unveils a medieval aristocratic residence of rare elegance, listed as a Historic Monument and a silent witness to several centuries of Provençal life.
History
Nestling in the thousand-year-old urban fabric of Arles, a city where Rome and the Middle Ages are superimposed layer upon layer, the École du Lau - sometimes spelt Dulau - is one of those discreet buildings that conceal an unsuspected historical density. Far from the gaudy splendour of the châteaux on the banks of the Loire, it embodies the aristocratic sobriety typical of medieval and post-medieval Provence, where golden limestone dictates the laws of architecture and light. What makes this residence so unique is precisely its setting in an exceptional urban fabric. Arles, a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its ancient and Romanesque monuments, offers the École du Lau an unrivalled setting: just a stone's throw from the Roman arena, the ancient theatre and the Saint-Trophime cloister, the building is in almost vertiginous dialogue with the ages. The local stone, warm and golden depending on the time of day, gives it that patina that only centuries can create. The experience of visiting is one of simplicity - an invitation to read history in the joints of the masonry, in the succession of openings, in the geometry of the interior courtyards that Provençal architecture is so fond of. Photographers and lovers of urban history will find much to contemplate here, particularly in the early hours of the morning when the low-angled light makes the carved stone reliefs stand out. The building has been listed as a Monument Historique in 1946 and then classified in 1950 - recognition that attests to its irreducible heritage value in a department that has no shortage of architectural gems. This dual status gives the École du Lau a special place in the inventory of Arles' heritage, alongside the great ancient and Romanesque institutions.
Architecture
The École du Lau belongs to the tradition of aristocratic Provençal urban residences, characterised by a relatively austere street façade - in keeping with the discretion of the southern elites - and an interior layout around a courtyard with galleries. Dense, golden limestone from the Alpilles or local quarries is the material of choice, sculpted into moulded window surrounds, facade stringcourses and ornate keystones. The elevations probably feature a succession of bays punctuated by mullioned or transomed windows, characteristic of the transition between late Gothic and Renaissance Provencal. The low-sloped roof, in keeping with Mediterranean practice, is covered with canal tiles in patinated orange tones that harmonise the building with its urban surroundings. The interior levels, served by a stone spiral staircase or a straight stairwell, follow the usual social hierarchy: utilitarian ground floor, representative piano nobile on the first floor, and communal areas above. The architectural ensemble bears witness to the mastery of construction that was typical of Provençal builders in the late Middle Ages and Renaissance, who were able to incorporate Italian fashions while preserving the region's constructional and climatic logic - thick walls to keep cool in summer, openings facing north or in the shade of courtyards, systematic use of ashlar for prestigious features.
Related Figures
Famille Lau (ou Dulau) — lignée de notables arlésiens à l'origine du nom de l'édificeArchevêques d'Arles — prélats dont l'influence structura le bâti aristocratique urbain médiévalInspecteurs des Monuments Historiques (années 1940-1950) — acteurs de la double protection patrimonialeMarchands et juristes arlésiens médiévaux — classe sociale ayant commandité ce type de demeures
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Ecole du Lau (ou Dulau) located?
Ecole du Lau (ou Dulau) is located in Arles, Bouches-du-Rhône department, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, France.
When was Ecole du Lau (ou Dulau) built?
Ecole du Lau (ou Dulau) dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Ecole du Lau (ou Dulau) open to visitors?
Ecole du Lau (ou Dulau) is currently closed to visitors.