Foundation of the field XIIIe siècle (≈ 1350)
Created by the knights of Saint John.
1614
Commanderie erection
Commanderie erection 1614 (≈ 1614)
Official status for the domain.
1630
Construction of the farmhouse
Construction of the farmhouse 1630 (≈ 1630)
First house with huts on the ground.
1793
Auction
Auction 1793 (≈ 1793)
Nationalized during the Revolution.
1830
Connection to the Radeau
Connection to the Radeau 1830 (≈ 1830)
Integration into a wider agricultural area.
1851-1891
Construction of the sheepfold
Construction of the sheepfold 1851-1891 (≈ 1871)
Replacement of the 17th century cabin.
1er juin 2021
Historical Monument
Historical Monument 1er juin 2021 (≈ 2021)
Total protection of the sheepfold and its enclosure.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The sheepfold of the Favouillane, in full, with its drawing enclosure, located at the place called Le Radeau, appearing in the cadastre section A on plots n°35 and n°36: inscription by order of 1 June 2021
Key figures
Chevaliers de Saint-Jean de Jérusalem - Founders of the field
La Favouillane sheepfold, located in Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône, is an agricultural building built between 1851 and 1891, succeeding a 17th-century cabin. It is distinguished by its rectangular plane of 50 m long, reinforced by crawling foothills and a north apse to resist the wind. Its walls, made of pebbly concrete attached to the lime mortar, support a willow wood frame and a reed cover ("sagne"), typical of local marshy areas.
The Domaine de la Favouillane, at the edge of the terroirs of Arles and Fos, is part of the agricultural area of the Radeau, an old dry marshy area. Founded in the 13th century by the Order of Knights of St John of Jerusalem, it became a commandery in 1614, with a mas built in 1630. After the Revolution, the estate was sold at auction in 1793 and attached to the Radeau estate in 1830.
The sheepfold, classified as a Historical Monument in 2021, illustrates the architectural adaptation to environmental constraints (wind, humidity) and the evolution of rural construction techniques in Provence. Its drawing enclosure and its structure make it a rare testimony of pastoral agriculture of the nineteenth century.
The materials used, such as the Rhone pebbles and local reeds, reflect an economy of means and integration into the landscape. The structure, composed of nine farms and "coundorso" (willow flies), shows a preserved craftsmanship. This public monument, managed by a state institution, remains a symbol of Provencal agricultural heritage.
The location of the sheepfold, in the heart of an old dry marsh, recalls the historical importance of religious orders in land planning. Its recent listing (2021) highlights its heritage value, both for its architecture and for its role in the rural history of the region.
