Construction of the bastide 4e quart du XVIIIe siècle (≈ 1887)
Period of initial construction documented.
21 décembre 1984
Registration for Historic Monuments
Registration for Historic Monuments 21 décembre 1984 (≈ 1984)
Protection of facades, roofs and interior decorations.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The facades and roofs of the bastide; the terraced garden with a wall decorated with vases, its entrance gate and fountain; and inside the ground floor: the fountain of the vestibule and the dining room with its decor (Box IV 118): inscription by decree of 21 December 1984
Key figures
Information non disponible - No character identified
The source text does not mention any names.
Origin and history
The Bastide d'Orcel is a typical building of the late eighteenth century, located in the city of Aix-en-Provence, in the heart of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. It embodies bourgeois residential architecture of this period, marked by elegant facades and carefully designed exterior spaces, as evidenced by its terraces and decorative elements (vases, fountain). Its designation as historic monuments in 1984 underscores its heritage value, particularly for its facades, roofs, and some preserved interior decorations.
The bastide is part of the Aix landscape, a city that was then expanding economically and culturally under the Old Regime. The bastids of this period often served as secondary residences for the aristocracy or the local bourgeoisie, reflecting their social status through landscaped gardens and refined amenities. These properties also played a role in the territorial organisation, marking the rural landscape around Provencal cities.
The inscription of the bastide of Orcel in 1984 helped to protect remarkable elements, such as the entrance gate, the fountain of the vestibule, or the dining room and its original decor. These protections aim to preserve the authenticity of the place, while offering a material testimony of the lifestyles and artistic tastes of the Aix élite on the eve of the French Revolution. No information is available on any owners or architects associated with its construction.
The site is located precisely in the Valcros district, close to the Galicia road and the Way of the Holy Fathers. This location, together with a satisfactory assessment of geographical accuracy (note of 8/10), facilitates its identification in the Aixian heritage. The administrative data confirm its connection to the Bouches-du-Rhône department, under the code Insee 13001, strengthening its anchor in local and regional history.
