Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Cardinal House, located in Bollène in the Vaucluse, is a Romanesque building built in the early 13th century, although its main period of activity was associated with the 14th century. It stands in the heart of the medieval city, on the northwest slope of Puy Hill, near the collegiate Saint-Martin. Originally conceived as a watchtower for the troops of the Count of Toulouse, it was occupied in 1224 by a garrison of Raymond VII during his conflict with the King of France and the Count of Baux. In 1270, his daughter Jeanne of Toulouse obtained the coseigneuria of Bollene in exchange for the protection of the neighboring priory.

During the Avignonnais period of the popes, the house housed the cardinals of the Holy See, especially Philip of Alençon in 1375, who headed the adjacent Saint Martin priory. The building, rebuilt at several times (Middle Age, Renaissance, Modern Age), was listed as a historical monument in 1947 and was classified in 2016. Its primitive plan includes two bunk rooms, with thick walls (up to 1.28 m) and a lauze roof. The present gate, reconstituted after the sale of the original in 1929, has a carved pediment.

Architecturally, the Cardinal House illustrates the transitions between military and residential functions. Its Renaissance windows, added later, testify to its adaptation to the needs of successive occupants. Today, communal property, it is fully protected, including its interior and exterior elements. Its history reflects the political and religious stakes of the region, marked by feudal conflicts and the influence of the papacy of Avignon.

External links