Hôtel Ravel d'Esclapon, dit aussi Boyer de Fonscolombe
MonumentHidden Treasure
Hôtel Ravel d'Esclapon, dit aussi Boyer de Fonscolombe, 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
- 43.5247, 5.4505
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00081498
In the heart of the Pays d'Aix region, the Hôtel Ravel d'Esclapon boasts the discreet elegance of 18th-century Provencal aristocracy: a well-ordered façade, formal gardens and refined interiors typical of the great Aix century.
History
Nestling in the urban fabric of Aix-en-Provence, the city that was once the capital of the County of Provence and the seat of a royal parliament, the Hôtel Ravel d'Esclapon - also known as the Hôtel Boyer de Fonscolombe - embodies the splendour of the 18th-century Provencal town house with rare sobriety. Aix is one of France's richest cities in terms of aristocratic residences from this period, and this building is just one of the constellation of private mansions that has made Vieil-Aix internationally famous. What really sets this residence apart is the superimposition of two noble identities: that of the Ravel d'Esclapon, a family of nobles of the robe linked to the parliamentary milieu of Aix, and that of the Boyer de Fonscolombe, a great Provencal family whose members left their mark on the intellectual and scientific life of the region. This dual affiliation gives the building a rare historical depth, testifying to the alliances and transmissions that structured Ancien Régime society. The tour immerses visitors in the hushed atmosphere of Aix interiors during the Age of Enlightenment, with a succession of harmoniously-proportioned rooms, finely-worked gypseries, Rognes marble fireplaces and Hungary-stitch floors typical of the region. The sober, orderly street façade conceals the generosity of the interior spaces, in keeping with the principle of architectural modesty so dear to the Provencal elite. The prestige of the building is enhanced by its setting in Aix: just a stone's throw from the Cours Mirabeau, the Sextius thermal baths and Saint-Sauveur cathedral, the Hôtel Ravel d'Esclapon is an ideal place to visit during a stroll through Vieil-Aix, whose narrow streets are home to one of the best-preserved Baroque and Classical ensembles in southern France. Listed as a Historic Monument since 1989, its protection guarantees that its original architectural features will live on.
Architecture
The Hôtel Ravel d'Esclapon is fully in keeping with the tradition of the 18th-century Provencal town house, of which Aix-en-Provence is the most accomplished example in southern France. The main facade, facing the street, features the classical layout customary in the town: regular bays punctuated by pilasters or buttresses, mullioned windows with fine mouldings, a wrought-iron balcony with scrolls characteristic of Provencal Baroque, and a monumental gate crowned by an arched or triangular pediment beneath which the coat of arms of the founding family naturally found its place. Pays d'Aix limestone, with its distinctive golden-blonde hue, is the main material used for the masonry. The interior layout follows the traditional plan of the hotel between courtyard and garden: an axial vestibule leads to a grand staircase with returns, whose wrought-iron banister is generally one of the highlights of this type of residence. The piano nobile's reception rooms feature high ceilings with gypsum cornices, painted woodwork, mirror overmantels and marble fireplaces. The rear of the plot opens onto a formal garden, an area of greenery and serenity tucked away from view, in a spatial arrangement that is one of the secret graces of Vieil-Aix.
Related Figures
Famille Ravel d'Esclapon — noblesse parlementaire d'Aix-en-Provence, commanditaires de la demeure au XVIIIe siècleFamille Boyer de Fonscolombe — grande famille provençale, propriétaires de l'hôtel et figures de la vie intellectuelle aixoiseÉtienne-Michel Boyer de Fonscolombe (1772-1853) — naturaliste et entomologiste renommé, membre correspondant de l'Académie des SciencesLaurent-Étienne Boyer de Fonscolombe (1743-1807) — académicien aixois, figure des Lumières provençalesIntendants de Provence du XVIIIe siècle — dont l'action urbanistique façonna le cadre architectural dans lequel s'inscrit l'hôtel
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Hôtel Ravel d'Esclapon, dit aussi Boyer de Fonscolombe located?
Hôtel Ravel d'Esclapon, dit aussi Boyer de Fonscolombe is located in Aix-en-Provence, Bouches-du-Rhône department, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, France.
When was Hôtel Ravel d'Esclapon, dit aussi Boyer de Fonscolombe built?
Hôtel Ravel d'Esclapon, dit aussi Boyer de Fonscolombe dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Hôtel Ravel d'Esclapon, dit aussi Boyer de Fonscolombe open to visitors?
Hôtel Ravel d'Esclapon, dit aussi Boyer de Fonscolombe is currently closed to visitors.