Château de Pontevès, Pontevès, France

The Château de Pontevès site is first recorded in a document in 1021 as the property of the monastery of Saint-Victoir in Marseille. Later, the lords of Pontevès progressively developed the site. In 1233 there is mention of a gate to the courtyard and the buildings arranged in the U-shape characteristic of the early 13th century. Further additions between 1560 and 1580 included a new bedroom, a great hall and the northwest tower. Between 1580 and 1590, the castle was defended during the Wars of Religion. In 1626, a billiards room, tennis court, stables and chicken house were added. Gradually, the castle was developed as a comfortable residence rather than a defensive site.

In 1650, François de Pontevès sold the castle to a rich Aix-en-Provence financier, Pierre Maurel, nicknamed the Croesus of Provence. The site then underwent a massive upheaval with most of the ancient edifice being destroyed and the materials reused to construct a vast building containing more than 50 rooms on three levels. Three corner towers were added. A gallery was decorated with trompe l'oeil paintings by Jean Daret.

However, this splendour was not to last. Faults in its constructions and inheritance problems led to a rapid degradation. By the time of the French Revolution the castle was already crumbling and many houses in the village today show evidence of plundering of the site for building materials, particularly doorframes and windows.

The castle today is open to the public. Visitors can see the gateway, four towers, parts of the curtain wall and other ruined structures.

References:

Wikipedia

User Reviews

Jeanne Mermier (9 months ago)
Magnificent village, there is a small car park allowing you to visit it, a castle offers us a magnificent view of the surrounding plains. We also went to the children's play area in the middle of a pine forest with again a great view.

Alexandre G (13 months ago)
A pretty village in the hinterland with car parks and the castle which offers a magnificent view.

Vladimir Kostka (3 years ago)
Lovely views

Jérôme Barbaran (4 years ago)
Nice point of view on the plain

Daniel Delicourt (4 years ago)
The castle is a ruin but the route of the hike from Gorbio and back to Sainte Agnès is magical. The climb is difficult, reserved for good walkers, the panorama is sublime.

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