Maison du 17ème siècle
MonumentHidden Treasure
Maison du 17ème siècle, located in Tarascon (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
- Tarascon, Bouches-du-Rhône, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 43.8053, 4.6567
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00081479
In the heart of Tarascon, this 17th-century residence embodies the Provençal art of living in all its elegant simplicity, with its dressed stone façade, mullioned windows and shaded courtyard typical of the Baroque civil architecture of the Midi.
History
Nestling in the historic urban fabric of Tarascon, a medieval town on the banks of the Rhône made famous by the good King René and the legend of the Tarasque, this 17th-century house is a discreet but precious example of Provençal civil architecture during the Grand Siècle. Far from the splendour of Versailles, it expresses a measured elegance, typical of the merchant bourgeoisie and notables who prospered at the time in this crossroads town between Provence and Languedoc. What really sets this residence apart is the coherence of its architectural vocabulary: the local limestone, cut with care, forms a façade punctuated by neat openings, framed by sober mouldings characteristic of southern classicism. The building interacts with its immediate surroundings - the narrow medieval streets, the Renaissance town houses and the imposing silhouette of Tarascon's royal castle - forming an urban ensemble of rare historical continuity. For heritage enthusiasts, a visit to this building is an invitation to see how, in the 17th century, a wealthy landowner in Tarascon translated his social ambitions into stone while respecting local building skills. Every detail - the layout of the bays, the treatment of the frames, the ironwork - tells a story of mastery of craftsmanship and a balance between Provençal tradition and the influences of emerging French classicism. The setting for the visit is itself exceptional: Tarascon, nestling on the left bank of the Rhône opposite Beaucaire, has a dense historic centre where every step reveals a new layer of the past. The house fits into this urban itinerary as an intimate stopover, away from the hustle and bustle of tourism focused on the château, allowing a more personal encounter with the town's architectural heritage.
Architecture
The building is typical of 17th-century Provençal civil architecture, characterised by a quest for balance between the classical rigour imported from Île-de-France and local building traditions rooted in the use of limestone quarried in the Alpilles and around Tarascon. The sober, well-ordered facade features a symmetrical composition in which the bays of windows with their moulded frames reflect a logic of social representation as much as functional imperatives. The materials used reflect the region's resources: limestone ashlar, in a slightly golden white, forms the bulk of the structure and facing, while the roof features Roman hollow tiles, typical of the Midi region and suited to the Provencal climate. The lintels and jambs of the openings are meticulous, and the modelling - cornices, bands separating the storeys, window sills - testifies to the local craftsmen's mastery of classical codes. Inside, we can assume that there is a stone staircase with a forged handrail, an interior courtyard providing light and ventilation in accordance with Provençal custom, and reception rooms with sculpted mantelpieces. These features, common to middle-class homes in the region at the time, create a living environment that combines relative comfort with the display of an established social status.
Related Figures
René d'Anjou, dit le Bon Roi René — souverain qui fit de Tarascon une ville royale et insuffla au XVe siècle un élan architectural dont le XVIIe siècle reste l'héritier indirectLes maîtres maçons de Tarascon et des Alpilles — artisans anonymes qui perpétuèrent au XVIIe siècle les savoir-faire de la taille de pierre calcaire provençaleLa bourgeoisie marchande tarasconnaise — classe sociale commanditaire probable de ce type de demeure, enrichie par le commerce rhôdanien et le négoce textileLes architectes-maçons d'Aix-en-Provence — dont les modèles diffusés dans toute la Provence ont influencé les constructions civiles de Tarascon au Grand SiècleAlphonse Daudet — auteur de Tartarin de Tarascon (1872), dont l'œuvre a contribué à faire de la ville un symbole culturel de la Provence, renforçant l'intérêt pour son patrimoine
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Maison du 17ème siècle located?
Maison du 17ème siècle is located in Tarascon, Bouches-du-Rhône department, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, France.
When was Maison du 17ème siècle built?
Maison du 17ème siècle dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Maison du 17ème siècle open to visitors?
Maison du 17ème siècle is currently closed to visitors.