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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Château de La Barben is an ancient castle whose origins date back to the 11th century, although its first written mention (castrum de beardntum) dates from 1064 in the cartular of the Abbey Saint-Victor of Marseille. Probably built before the year 1000, it was owned by the family of Pontevès before being acquired in 1474 by John II of Forbin, brother of Palamede de Forbin, artisan of the reunion of Provence to the Crown of France in 1482. The castle remained in this family for almost five centuries, until 1963, undergoing major reshuffles after its ruin during the revolt of the Cascaveous in 1630.

In the 17th century, the castle was equipped with gardens probably designed by Le Nôtre, characterized by terraces, ponds, fountains and a path of plane trees. At the beginning of the 20th century, an earthquake caused the collapse of the dungeon, resulting in restoration work. In 1963, André Pons, an agricultural engineer, bought the castle, created an animal park there in 1971 and opened it to the public. Ranked a historic monument in 1984, it still housed its descendants at the beginning of the 21st century.

In 2019, the castle was acquired by Vianney Audemard d'Alançon, who installed Le Rocher Mistral, an immersive theme park celebrating history and Provencal culture. The site, always open to visits, today mixes medieval heritage and cultural activities, while preserving its classified gardens and architectural elements, such as medieval towers transformed into 17th century pavilions.

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