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Origin and history

The Château d'Aiguines was born in the Middle Ages, succeeding a Gallic oppidum located south of the Grand Margès. A first fortress, mentioned in 1021 as Castrum de Aquina, was built on the Puy (1,056 m) before being shaved and rebuilt below, near the present chapel Saint Peter (837 m). This strategic site originally belonged to the Benedictine Abbey of Saint-Victor in Marseilles in the 11th century, then became a seigneury controlled by the families of the Baux, Blacas, Gauthier and Sabran. The present Renaissance castle was built by Balthazar de Gauthier between 1596 and 1641 on the foundations of an older building belonging to the Blacas. The buildings, built under Henry IV, underwent major alterations between 1720 and 1750, before being acquired and restored in 1989 by a private owner.

According to local tradition, the castle was originally built by the Templars in the 12th century, at the request of the Bishop of Riez. This place was also marked by the presence of the pontiff brothers at the end of the Middle Ages, charged with the maintenance of the neighbouring medieval bridge. The seigneury of Aiguines then passed to the Clapiers, descendants of the Vauvenargues, before becoming a private property closed to the public. The village, on the other hand, developed around specialized crafts, including wood shooting, which flourished until the 20th century, and helped shape the local economic identity.

Today the castle is an architectural testimony of the seigneurial recompositions in Provence, mixing medieval heritages and Renaissance influences. Its dominant location, offering stunning views of Lake Sainte-Croix and the Valensole plateau, reflects its historic role in controlling access to the Verdon Gorges. Although not accessible to the public, it remains a symbol of the local heritage, associated with the history of the Provencal noble families and the territorial transformations of the region, marked by the installation of the Canjuers military camp in the 20th century.

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