Château de Simiane-la-Rotonde, Simiane-la-Rotonde, France

Simiane-la-Rotonde has remained practically unchanged for centuries. On the hilltop stands the truncated cone-shaped edifice that gave Simiane-la-Rotonde its name: the keep, or rotunda, of the old Château des Simiane-Agoult. Built in the 12th century, its massive exterior is remarkable for its hexagonal shape. The interior, an uneven dodecagon, is especially splendid. It is a vast room with a series of arches topped by finely sculpted capitals. The ceiling has a stone cupola of 12 ribbed vaults towering five metres high. It is an amazing example of Romanesque architecture, both civil and military.

The southern wing of the castle has also been restored and you can visit parts of the main building and the fortifications. The rooms on the ground floor date from the Middle Ages and recount the castle's history. The upper floor, in Renaissance style, houses the Sainte Victoire Aromatherapy Laboratory, which offers workshops in essential oils to the public.The castle is also the magical setting for exhibitions and the international festival of early music Les Riches Heures Musicales de la Rotonde in August.

References:

avignon-et-provence.com

User Reviews

Frans Diederik (6 months ago)
Lovely medieval town and an extremely interesting round 'Hall'

romain roux (7 months ago)
The visit of the castle is 5.5 euros per person. Not worth it at all. 2 nearly empty rooms and the rotonde. Done in 20 minutes.

Graham Reynolds (16 months ago)
This a beautiful location, allow half a day, lots of up hill, very tranquil and classic buildings of the area, small “castle” at the top with a €5 entry. Worth a visit

Lars Rohman (2 years ago)
Beautiful middle age village

Eline Verhoeven (6 years ago)
Its worth going in and seeing the castle if you're interested in architecture or medieval buildings and history. Its not only the tower that you get to see but you also see part of the complex including the original hall and apartment rooms which are now displaying an art exhbition and lavender shop. Its truly mysterious and beautiful to walk through the complex as it has insane views on the landscapes around Simiane. I spent quite some time here and would do it again!

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