Mas de la Maison Basse
MonumentHidden Treasure
Mas de la Maison Basse, located in Boulbon (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
- Boulbon, Bouches-du-Rhône, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 43.8725, 4.6739
- Mérimée Reference
- PA13000004
Niché dans la garrigue provençale, ce mas du XVIIe siècle cache un trésor insoupçonné : un plafond en bois peint à motifs floraux d'une rare élégance, témoignage d'un art de vivre bourgeois sous le règne du Roi-Soleil.
History
In the heart of Provence on the Rhône, the Mas de la Maison Basse rises up with the haughty discretion of the great rural residences that never needed ostentation to assert their rank. Built in the second half of the 17th century, this Boulbon farmhouse epitomises the quiet success of a prosperous Tarascona bourgeoisie, one that knew how to combine the practicality of the Provencal terroir with the refinement of interiors inspired by the decorative art of the Grand Siècle. What sets this farmhouse apart from the many rural residences in the region is precisely what it conceals behind its sober facades: a wooden ceiling painted with floral motifs of exceptional quality, nestling in the stairwell. Carried out during a restoration campaign in the first half of the 18th century, this decorative ensemble reveals a remarkable pictorial mastery, with subtle colours and plant compositions of great creative freedom. It's one of those hidden gems that Provence's heritage has in store for the most attentive onlooker. To visit the Mas de la Maison Basse is to immerse yourself in the intimacy of a residence that has survived the centuries without losing its soul. The volumes, the layout of the rooms, the quality of the local materials - local limestone, whitewashed renderings - all combine to recreate the atmosphere of an aristocratic rural life, somewhere between a farm and a prestigious residence. The interior staircase, with its painted ceiling, is the highlight of a visit that combines social history and art history. The natural setting adds to the charm of the place. Boulbon, a village perched at the foot of the fledgling Alpilles, between Tarascon and Avignon, offers a setting of garrigue and vines where the midday light plays at all hours with the pale stones. The mas is set in an area with an exceptionally rich heritage, between the abbey of Saint-Michel-de-Frigolet and the ramparts of Tarascon, inviting you to take a long cultural walk through ancient and medieval Provence.
Architecture
Mas de la Maison Basse is in the tradition of the great Provençal country houses of the 17th century, characterised by a sober facade with regular openings, thick walls of local limestone and a low-pitched roof covered with Roman tiles. The ensemble expresses the aesthetic of the quality farmhouse, somewhere between the utilitarian farmhouse and the château, that the southern middle classes favoured: nobility without pomp, a benevolent solidity anchored in the landscape. The interior layout follows the classic layout of provincial middle-class homes of the period: on the ground floor are the business and service areas, and on the first floor are the reception and living rooms. The staircase, the centrepiece of domestic life and a place of social representation par excellence, is the true architectural heart of the building. It is here that the most remarkable decorative effort was concentrated: a painted wooden ceiling with floral motifs, executed in the first half of the 18th century during the restoration of the farmhouse. Garlands, stylised bouquets and plant arabesques are displayed on the wooden panels with a freedom that evokes the influence of late Baroque décor filtered through Provençal taste. The materials used - limestone ashlar for the frames, rendered rubble stone for the walls - are typical of regional construction. The measured proportions of the building, the quality of the joints and the care taken with the architectural details (modelling, window sills, cornices) bear witness to the work of skilled craftsmen, perfectly familiar with the canons of provincial Louis-Quatorzian classicism.
Related Figures
Le bourgeois tarasconnais commanditaire (identité non établie) — riche notable qui fit construire le mas dans la seconde moitié du XVIIe siècleLe peintre décorateur anonyme du XVIIIe siècle — artiste ou artisan qui réalisa le plafond en bois peint à motifs floraux lors de la restaurationLes propriétaires successifs du XVIIIe siècle — famille bourgeoise ayant commandité la restauration et l'embellissement du mas vers 1720-1750Les propriétaires du XIXe siècle — gardiens de la demeure à travers les bouleversements de la Révolution et de l'industrialisation
Tags
Nearby castles
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Mas de la Maison Basse located?
Mas de la Maison Basse is located in Boulbon, Bouches-du-Rhône department, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, France.
When was Mas de la Maison Basse built?
Mas de la Maison Basse dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Mas de la Maison Basse open to visitors?
Mas de la Maison Basse is currently closed to visitors.
