Hôtel de Gastaud ou hôtel Ravel d'Esclapon
MonumentHidden Treasure
In the heart of Aix-en-Provence, the Hôtel de Gastaud combines the classical rigour of the Grand Siècle with Provençal Baroque elegance of the 18th century, reflecting the art of living of Aix's noblesse de robe.
History
Nestling in the labyrinth of aristocratic lanes for which Aix-en-Provence is famous, the Hôtel de Gastaud - also known as the Hôtel Ravel d'Esclapon - is one of those discreet urban palaces that the city of King René hides behind austere facades before revealing their sumptuous courtyards. A doubly-protected historic monument, it alone embodies the social and aesthetic ambitions of the great Provencal parliamentary bourgeoisie at the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries. What sets the building apart from the constellation of private mansions in Aix is the legibility of its two major construction campaigns: the first, carried out in the last quarter of the seventeenth century under the influence of Louis-Quatorzian classicism, then the second, in the second quarter of the eighteenth century, which introduced a rocaille touch and a lightness of ornament typical of the great Provencal residences of the Regency and Louis XV periods. This dialogue between two architectural sensibilities lends the ensemble a rare richness, evident in the details of each bay. Visiting the building offers the unique privilege of seeing in situ how the families who populated the Parlement de Provence lived and shaped the destiny of the region. The inner courtyard, closed off from the street, reveals to the initiated visitor the subtle hierarchy of spaces: between the monumental stairwell, the arcaded galleries and the reception flats, everything works together to display social distinction without vulgar ostentation. Aix-en-Provence is an ideal setting for this architectural gem. The city has one of the most remarkable concentrations of private mansions in Europe, and the Hôtel de Gastaud is a natural part of a heritage trail that runs from the Place d'Albertas to the Cours Mirabeau, marking out three centuries of urban history. The light of the Midi, reverberated by the white limestone of the façades, gives the building an incomparable golden hue in the late afternoon.
Architecture
The Hôtel de Gastaud is an eloquent example of the Provençal town house as it developed in Aix-en-Provence between the end of the reign of Louis XIV and the first half of the 18th century. The traditional layout is based around an inner courtyard enclosed from the street by a monumental gate, in a "courtyard and garden" arrangement adapted to the constraints of the dense urban plot. The sober, hieratic facade on the street is probably laid out in the classical style of local limestone, with regular bays punctuated by pilasters or refrets, and bays with moulded frames typical of Provencal classicism. The coexistence of two construction periods - the late 17th and early 18th centuries - can be seen in the superimposition of styles: the symmetrical rigour and severe moulded profiles of the first phase rub shoulders with the more flexible ornamentation of the second, visible in particular in the treatment of the mascarons, consoles and wrought iron railings. As in most of the grand hotels in Aix, the main staircase is the centrepiece of the interior architecture: with straight flights or one banister on top of another, it features a sumptuous staircase designed to show visitors the way up to the reception flats. The flats themselves probably still feature panelling, trumeau fireplaces and coffered or stuccoed ceilings, testifying to the refined taste of the patrons. The materials used are typical of construction in Aix at the time: local limestone in warm tones ranging from white to honey, worked with a precision that reveals the work of skilled stonemasons. The low-pitched roof, as is customary in southern architecture, is probably covered in canal tiles, reinforcing the Mediterranean feel of the building.
Related Figures
Famille de Gastaud — magistrats et parlementaires provençaux, commanditaires de la première construction à la fin du XVIIe siècleFamille Ravel d'Esclapon — noblesse de robe aixoise, second propriétaire éponyme ayant vraisemblablement dirigé les embellissements du XVIIIe sièclePierre Pavillon — architecte aixois actif à la fin du XVIIe siècle, représentatif de la génération qui modela le paysage urbain de l'extension d'AixLaurent Vallon — sculpteur provençal du XVIIIe siècle dont le style décoratif est associé aux ornements des grands hôtels parlementaires aixoisLouis de Vendôme — gouverneur de Provence, initiateur de l'extension urbaine d'Aix qui créa le cadre dans lequel s'inscrit l'hôtel
