Maison des Chevaliers
MonumentHidden Treasure
A medieval gem in Barbentane, the Maison des Chevaliers features a double Renaissance gallery that is unique in Provence, combining superimposed arcades and a staircase turret in a setting of thousand-year-old stone.
History
Nestling within the ancient ramparts of Barbentane, on the outskirts of Avignon, the Maison des Chevaliers is one of the most unusual civil buildings in Provence. Built in the 13th century, it has weathered the centuries, accumulating layers of history, from medieval Gothic to 18th-century classical elegance, without ever losing the essence of its character. What really sets this monument apart in the architectural panorama of Provence is its double gallery with superimposed arcades, added to the eastern façade during the Renaissance. No other building in Provence has such a distinctive layout, evoking the loggias of the Italian peninsula while retaining a sober southern feel. The play of light and shade produced by these arcades on the pale stone is a spectacle that photographers and architecture enthusiasts will particularly appreciate. The tour invites you to take a stroll through time: from the vaulted medieval cellars, a direct legacy of the 13th century, to the spaces of the former town hall, remodelled in the 19th century, every nook and cranny reveals an anecdote about local life and the successive ambitions of its owners. The corner turret, with its spiral staircase, offers an intimate view over the Roman tiled roofs of the village. The setting of Barbentane itself adds to the magic of the place. Dominated by its 17th-century castle, surrounded by orchards and market gardens in the heart of the Montagnette, this peaceful village between the Rhône and Durance rivers offers an authentic atmosphere that the region's big tourist towns no longer have. A visit to the Maison des Chevaliers is also a chance to feel the pulse of unspoilt Provence.
Architecture
The architecture of the Maison des Chevaliers is a composite whole, the result of eight centuries of intervention. The original plan, organised in an L-shape around two perpendicular main buildings, is typical of large medieval Provencal urban dwellings. The spiral staircase, which has been preserved despite 19th-century alterations, is a masterpiece of medieval stereotomy. The vaulted cellars in the basement, perfectly preserved, recreate the dark and powerful atmosphere of the 13th century, with their carved stone cradles resting on squat pillars. The most distinctive - and rarest - feature of the building is undoubtedly the double gallery with superimposed arcades built in the 16th century against the east facade. This two-storey loggia, with its semi-circular or slightly broken arches resting on slender columns, has no known equivalent in Provence. It bears witness to a direct Italian influence, probably transmitted by the workshops of architects active in the Avignon region during the Renaissance. The south facade on rue Pujade, remodelled around 1740, is a sober, provincial classicism, with pilasters framing a doorway with a moulded architrave, a prominent cornice and a balanced proportion of bays, all reflecting the desire to display the dignity of the municipal institution. The materials used are typical of Provençal construction: gold-tinted local limestone for the ashlars, lime render for the facings and Roman tiles for the low-sloped roofs.
Related Figures
Les chevaliers de Saint-Jean de Jérusalem (possibles occupants ou commanditaires médiévaux, à l'origine du nom)Les consuls de Barbentane (administrateurs ayant organisé la division de la maison en 1665 et sa conversion en hôtel de ville)Les artisans et maçons provençaux du XVIe siècle (bâtisseurs de la double galerie Renaissance, reflet de l'influence italienne)Les familles bourgeoises de Barbentane (propriétaires de la partie sud après 1665, témoins de la vie civile locale sous l'Ancien Régime)Les architectes ou entrepreneurs des années 1838-1843 (responsables du remaniement néoclassique de la partie municipale)
